Catananche caerulea 'Alba'

RHS Plant Profile

Cupid's dart 'Alba'

RHS 2002

Herbaceous Perennial

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A tufted perennial with narrowly strap-shaped leaves and white flowers to 4cm across in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Catananche may be annuals or short-lived perennials with narrow leaves and solitary flowers heads with silvery bracts and strap-shaped florets; can be dried
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Suited to any well-drained soil in full sun; good drought resistance. Often short-lived if grown on heavy soil

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or by root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews