Height: 9 inches

Hardiness Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Germination: Easy

Aftercare: Easy

Description: 18in or more across with frilled edges and in constant, heart lifting colours for months. Superb in containers. Recommended for charm and impact.

Sowing Instructions: Sow in spring for summer bedding or summer (late May or early June) for late summer/autumn planting to replace summer bedding. Sow 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in a good seed compost. Germination takes 14-21 days at 21C (68F).

Growing Instructions: When large enough to handle, transplant to 7.5cm (3in) pots of potting compost. Harden off spring sown plants and plant out 30-45cm (12-18in) apart in the border. Pot up summer sown plants into 13cm (5in) pots and stand out of doors on a sheet of polythene to prevent root penetration into the soil.

Aftercare Instructions: Water regularly and give weak doses of a high Nitrogen fertiliser every 14 days. Plant out in late summer in beds, window boxes, containers, etc.

NB: The leaf colour change occurs as the night temperature drops in late summer. In late winter they produce a tall flower spike which makes an unusual floral decoration.