cupid's dart
Catananche caerulea
USDA zones4 to 7
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterNeeds dry soil
Size12 to 24 inches tall9 to 12 inches wide
- Bloom season
- Summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Blue to lavender-blue
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Notes
Cupid's dart (Catananche caerulea) is a perennial for borders and low maintenance beds. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full sun and dry, sandy, loamy, or chalky soil. Blue to lavender-blue flowers open from early to late summer and again in early autumn. Deer tend to pass it by. It tolerates drought, so you can skip frequent watering once it is settled.
Pairs well with Cheddar pink, Purple lovegrass, Ornamental onion, and Blackhawks big bluestem.
Native range
Northern Africa and southwestern Europe.