Corncockle

Once found in every cornfield in Britain, now a rare garden treasure. Corncockle produces large, open trumpets in a glowing shade of magenta-purple, fading to a white centre speckled with delicate black guide lines — silky petals that catch the light beautifully on slender, grey-green stems that dance and sway in the slightest breeze.

Ultra-hardy (H7, to -20°C), thriving in poor soil, and self-seeding reliably once established. Autumn sowing produces the tallest, most floriferous plants. Note: all parts of the plant, especially the seeds, are poisonous if ingested.

• Agrostemma githago — Hardy Annual (H7)
• Height: 75–90cm | Flowers: June–September
• Approximately 50 seeds per packet
• Direct sow September for early blooms, or March–May — do not transplant
• Full sun; poor, well-drained soil — do not over-feed
• Self-seeds reliably — naturalises beautifully over time

Grow it with Cornflower Blue Ball for the quintessential British cornfield combination — magenta and electric blue, dancing together in the summer breeze.