Catananche caerulea
"Blue-flowered Cupid's dart"
Orders placed before 1 September 2025
You can expect your order in August/September
Orders placed 1 September - 15 October 2025
You can expect your order in September/October
Orders placed 16 October - 15 December 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Catananche caerulea, commonly known as blue-flowered Cupid's dart, is a delightful perennial that adds a touch of charm to any garden. With its dainty violet-blue, daisy-like blooms and dark central eye, it’s a plant that captures attention without being overly flashy. The soft, paper-like seedheads that follow the flowers continue to draw interest long after the petals have faded, creating a beautifully textured contrast in your garden. Whether planted in borders, cottage gardens, or wildflower meadows, Catananche caerulea offers a reliable display of colour from mid to late summer.
Reaching a height of 50cm to even 1m, Catananche caerulea brings vertical interest and a light, airy feel to your garden. The sturdy stems hold the blooms upright, while the delicate seedheads provide lasting beauty. Perfect for creating a soft, romantic feel, blue-flowered Cupid's dart works wonderfully as a cut flower, adding that wildflower elegance to floral arrangements. The plant thrives in well-drained, sunny spots and is a great addition to areas where a splash of colour and texture is needed. For a garden that’s both lovely and low-maintenance, Catananche caerulea is a delightful choice that’s sure to make you fall in love with its understated beauty.
Our Catananche caerulea plants are supplied as a root ball with healthy growth, ensuring a strong start. They are carefully shipped in our unique cardboard box, designed to keep them safe and in top condition. This ensures they arrive healthy and ready to thrive in their new home.
Key features
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Comes back every year
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Attractive to wildlife
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Loved by pollinators
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Thrives well in full sun
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
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Rodent resistant
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Catananche caerulea
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Flower colour
Blue, violet
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Plant size
9cm root ball
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Established height
50cm-1m
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Established spread
30-50cm
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Plant spacing
9 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Full sun
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Position
Sheltered
Exposed -
Suitable for
Borders
Container
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Sandy
Chalk -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
No
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak the Catananche caerulea roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting
Plant your "Blue-flowered Cupid's dart" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost within a week of delivery and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 September 2025
You can expect your order in September 2025Orders placed 1 September - 15 October 2025
You can expect your order in October 2025Orders placed 16 October - 15 December 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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