Flowers: Summer

Height: 5 feet

Position: Sun or Partial Shade

Hardiness Rating: 5 6 7 8

Germination: Easy

Aftercare: Easy

Description: This wonderful plant is the result of a chance seedling discovered by an elderly gentleman in a shingle pathway at his home in Kettering, UK. Its tall spikes have whorls of many mauve-pink flowers, veined in a dramatic velvet royal-purple. Sown early, plants will flower in their first year and so this excellent perennial border plant can be treated as an annual. When the first flowers are over, stems should be cut back and in many instances, a second flush of flowers will follow in the early autumn. Flowers summer/autumn. Height 48-60cm (4-5ft).

Sowing Instructions: Sow 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in good seed sowing compost from late winter to spring. Seal inside a polythene bag until germination which usually takes 15-21 days at 20-25C (70-75F).

Growing Instructions: When large enough to handle transplant the seedlings to boxes or 7.5cm (3in) pots. Grow on at a slightly lower temperature with good ventilation and light When well grown, gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions and plant out in late spring after all risk of frost has passed 90cm (3ft) apart in full sun and well drained soil.

Aftercare Instructions: Cut down the stems in the autumn.

Caution: Harmful if eaten