Agrostemma githago - Corncockle Mauve (Seeds)

20 seeds open pollinated seeds from our gardens.
 
Agrostemma githago is an annual wildflower that grows in meadows and is popular with cottage gardens. Flowers appear on top of tall stems (approx 60cm) so they appear to be floating. Flowers are around 4cm across. I grow mine through wire structures to support their stems. These plants require full sun and fertile moist well drained soil.
 
Excellent cut flower. Harvest individual flower stems when the buds are half open, or harvest large branching stems when most of the flowers in the spray are almost fully opened. Vase life of 7 days. The plant will produce more flowers as you cut them.
 
Sow the seeds during autumn to early spring and are best direct sown. For the past few years I just let the seeds drop where they have flowered. Sow seeds just below the surface of the soil. Space seeds at 20cm intervals. Germination is between 7 and 14 days at 20C. You can expect flowers to appear in around 12 weeks. In Australia, flowers appear from November to March. Corncockles are best suited to cool climates.
 
Note - All parts of this plant especially the seeds are poisonous to humans and animals.