Catananche Species, Cupid's Dart, Love Plant

Catananche caerulea

Family
Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Catananche (kat-AN-ak-ee)
Species
caerulea (see-ROO-lee-uh)
Synonym
Catananche bicolor
Catananche carpholepis
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Bloom Color
Light Blue
Lavender
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Foliage Color
Bronze
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Glen Avon, California

Long Beach, California

Pedley, California

Richmond, California

Riverside, California

Rubidoux, California

Spring Valley, California

Sunnyslope, California

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Middletown, Delaware

Keystone Heights, Florida

Boise, Idaho

Meridian, Idaho

Plainfield, Illinois

Wauconda, Illinois

Inwood, Iowa

Olathe, Kansas

South China, Maine

Little Falls, Minnesota

Whitehall, Montana

Sparks, Nevada

Manchester, New Hampshire

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Akron, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Portland, Oregon

Pennsburg, Pennsylvania

Austin, Texas

Farmington, Utah

Roosevelt, Utah

Springfield, Virginia

East Port Orchard, Washington

Kalama, Washington

Parkwood, Washington

Port Orchard, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Ellsworth, Wisconsin

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

7
positives
3
neutrals
1
negative
Sort By:
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H
H
Little Falls, MN | June 2014 | positive

Has weathered two winters now including the last frigid winter with multiple -40 lows. Growing in super sandy spot with wood chip mulch a...Read More

V
V
Boise, ID (Zone 6b) | September 2011 | positive

Planted 2 or 3 of these a few years ago, and not only are they thriving in my "Hell Strip" (the long, narrow gravel-filled area between t...Read More

C
Spring Valley, CA (Zone 10a) | February 2011 | positive

I love this little gem of a plant! It needs very little care to thrive, is easily divided, reseeds itself politely, glows in the evening...Read More

C
C
Champaign, IL (Zone 6a) | July 2008 | neutral

Just for the record: it's a mistake to assume that "leaves left next to the plant" are not a sign of rabbit damage to this plant. Rabbit...Read More

T
Woodbury, MN (Zone 4a) | May 2008 | positive

Pretty easy to grow from seed, though mine tend to be monocarpic. Very slow to emerge in spring, so mark their location. I accidentally dug one up...

1
Holly, MI | May 2007 | negative

I ordered several of these plants from a nursery and they are not doing very well. Something keeps cutting the leaves off. Not a rabbit...Read More

G
Whitehall, MT | August 2005 | positive

Planted this from seed this year, and it germinated well in unheated propagation tray, and grew easily. Transplanted outside after frost...Read More

A
A
Riverside, CA | June 2004 | positive

This is a great summer blooming plant, I love the color, it is a bluish lavender. I think it is very beautiful planted with evening prim...Read More

K
K
Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b) | May 2004 | neutral

Not real impressed with this plant. It is not very big for 4 yrs. old, just a small plant. Perhaps it's a little tender for zone 4. I kee...Read More

S
Mississauga, ON (Zone 6a) | June 2003 | positive

Great perennial for continuous bloom, however it may be a short-lived perennial. I had my first one for 3 years, but lost it this past wi...Read More

T
Kearney, NE (Zone 5a) | August 2001 | neutral

An easily grown plant for the border with grey-green leaves and bearing most of the summer attractive violet-blue flowers surrounded by p...Read More

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