Cupids Dart Seeds

Catananche caerulea

A showy violt-blue perennial flower of the aster family. Common names include Love Plant, Cupids Dart, blue cupidone and cercreina.  It is a garden flower that is primarly used as a cut flower or dried flower in arrangements.  The plant grows in clumps and later in the season will send up a long stem that is a bright cornflower blue to lavender that has rectangular fringed petals with deep purple centers, Cupid's Dart will bloom the first year if the flower seed is planted early, in late winter. To do an early planting, sow Catananche caerulea seeds indoors using moist seed compost and starter trays. Sow the Cupid's Dart seeds on the surface and lightly cover the flower seeds with moistened soil. Keep the flower seeds moist until germination. When seedlings are large enough to handle transplant them into 3 inch pots. Keep them in a light place but not in direct sun. Gradually harden Cupid's Dart plants to outside conditions for 10 - 15 days before planting them in their permanent place after frost season has passed. Good drainage is essential in winter as roots are susceptible to rot in soggy soils. Fertilizing is not necessary. Cupid's Dart plants will gently re-seed.