Catananche
( kat - an - NAN - kee )
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At-A-Glance InformationThese Mediterranean flowers naturally occur in dry meadow habitats, and produce cornflower-like blooms in summertime in shades of blue, yellow and white. These colorful additions to gardens are great in mixed beds, in sunny border gardens, and flowers are commonly cut for use in dried flower arrangements, known to be a symbol of love. Plant these flowers for pollinators, in cut flower gardens, or simply to add pops of color throughout the landscape.
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Catananche Species and Varietals
The genus Catananche is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes 5 species. These flowering plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 3-10 or Sunset growing zones 1-10 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Catananche caerulea (Cupid's Dart, Blue Cupidone, Blue Daisy, Blue-Flowered Cupid's Dart, Blue Succory, Compulsion-of-Love, Cornflower, Flower of Love, Creek Love Plant) This perennial flowering plant needs full sun and moderate water. This native of Europe thrives in summertime, when its blooms are commonly cut for fresh or dried arrangements. Flowers are lavender-blue and surrounded by shiny bracts. They sprout from a clump of gray-green grassy leaves at the top of stems that reach 2 feet tall. Varieties include 'Alba' (with white blooms that have purple centers) and 'Major' (pictured, with light purple blooms that have dark centers). |
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Catananche lutea (Yellow Succory) This species is a wooly annual that forms a basal rosette of leaves from which flower stems up to 16 inches tall emerge. Flowers bloom between April and June, and are white to beige. These plants produce a few types of seeds from flowers at different positions on stems. |
Caring for Catananche
These flowers will bloom in the first year from seed sown in early springtime. The first flowers that emerge tend to be closer to the ground and are partially hidden by foliage; later flowers will be on full-height stems. Plant Cupid's Dart in a space in the garden that receives full sun exposure; between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day is ideal for the best blooms. These plants will not flower as profusely if grown in shaded areas of the garden. Ensure that soil is well-draining and moderately fertile with a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. After planting Cupid's Dart, mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold.
Water new plantings regularly until they develop a strong root system. At maturity, these flowers are considered drought-tolerant, and are able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year, with supplemental waterings during periods of extended dry weather. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of flowers. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These flowers should be dead-headed to prolong bloom period, and are short-lived, but will propagate themselves via volunteer seedlings. Cut plants back after the flowering period has ended. Catananche flowers are considered short-lived perennials, persisting for about 2-3 years in the garden; they are then pulled and composted. These flowers will freely re-seed, however, providing blooms in the landscape indefinitely.
Harvesting Catananche
Catananche, or Cupid's Dart, are a good choice for cut flowers. They have long stems and colorful blooms, and are available from the middle of summer through fall. They combine well with many different types of flowers in fresh arrangements. Harvest Catananche flowers after a few flowers in a cluster have opened, but before all are fully open and begin to fade. The best time to harvest is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. The vase life of Catananche fresh cut flowers is 7-14 days.
These flowers can also be used in dried flower arrangements; they keep their color when dehydrated. Harvest flower stems that have fully formed but unopened blooms. Using sharp, clean shears, cut the flowering stem towards the base of the plant. Do not drop in water; instead, bundle harvested flower stems together and hang them upside-down in a cool, dark, dry area with good ventilation. Lower foliage can be removed from stems to combat moisture buildup and mold. Direct sun will cause color to fade more quickly. Once dried, use to add to dried arrangements with other foliage and flowers.
Water new plantings regularly until they develop a strong root system. At maturity, these flowers are considered drought-tolerant, and are able to get by on rainwater alone for most of the year, with supplemental waterings during periods of extended dry weather. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of flowers. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These flowers should be dead-headed to prolong bloom period, and are short-lived, but will propagate themselves via volunteer seedlings. Cut plants back after the flowering period has ended. Catananche flowers are considered short-lived perennials, persisting for about 2-3 years in the garden; they are then pulled and composted. These flowers will freely re-seed, however, providing blooms in the landscape indefinitely.
Harvesting Catananche
Catananche, or Cupid's Dart, are a good choice for cut flowers. They have long stems and colorful blooms, and are available from the middle of summer through fall. They combine well with many different types of flowers in fresh arrangements. Harvest Catananche flowers after a few flowers in a cluster have opened, but before all are fully open and begin to fade. The best time to harvest is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. The vase life of Catananche fresh cut flowers is 7-14 days.
These flowers can also be used in dried flower arrangements; they keep their color when dehydrated. Harvest flower stems that have fully formed but unopened blooms. Using sharp, clean shears, cut the flowering stem towards the base of the plant. Do not drop in water; instead, bundle harvested flower stems together and hang them upside-down in a cool, dark, dry area with good ventilation. Lower foliage can be removed from stems to combat moisture buildup and mold. Direct sun will cause color to fade more quickly. Once dried, use to add to dried arrangements with other foliage and flowers.
Propagation
Catananche flowers are best propagated from seed. To propagate your Cupid's Dart flower, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Catananche by Seed
Propagating Catananche by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-3 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Catananche seed heads are typically whitish and have stripes. Seeds are contained in the very center.
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Catananche seeds are small and range in color from tan to brown to almost black.
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Problems and Pests
These plants are typically pest and disease-free, though they can have issues from time to time with the following:
- Aphids
- Slugs and Snails
- Powdery Mildew
Gallery
Catananche flowers are commonly used to add blue hues to garden beds.
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Here, drought-tolerant superstars Cupid's Dart and Coprosma are planted together in a hydrozone.
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The reddish-purple flowering heads of Globe Thistle mirror the central color of Cupid's Dart flowers.
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Cupid's Dart flowers are used in pollinator gardens, here seen interplanted with pink Beardtongue.
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This bourgeoning bed features ornamental garlic, Sea Holly, Lavender, Salvia, Cupid's Dart, and bright orange Kniphofia.
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Catananche caerulea 'Alba' has white flowers.
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Videos
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Learn about these cottage garden classics.
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How to grow these plants from seed.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 225, Catananche caerulea (Cupid's Dart)
