Catananche caerulea
"Cupid’s Dart"

Winning! We planted this “bang-for-the-buck” combo below of Catananache caerulea, Clarkia rubicunda blasdalei, and Cotyledon orbiculata var. orbiculata in our “too-busy-to-take-care-of” parking lot last year. “Cupid’s Dart” provides masses of sturdy, upright stems topped by fun pearly-papery buds that open into these lovely semi-double, purple-eyed, lavender-blue, 2” blooms for months! To 2’ tall and 20” across, this tough and EASY, fairly drought tolerant short-lived perennial makes the loveliest cut flowers.  The pearly-silver seed heads are really neat in dried arrangements, too! Best in well-drained soil. Can be divided and self-sows! COLD HARDY and deer resistant, plus butterflies! Ancient Greeks and Romans used the flowers as the main ingredient in love potions, hence the amorous common name “Cupid’s Dart”.