Vaccaria hispanica White Beauty Seeds - Cow Cockle

The 'White Beauty' Soapwort is a beautiful white variety of the species Vaccaria hispanica, also known as Cow Soapwort. This annual resembles baby's breath with its airy appearance and small flowers floating above grey-blue foliage, but its stems are sturdier. It is very easy to grow and ideal for lightening floral arrangements. Sow it continuously for long-lasting flowering, as the plants die shortly after producing their seeds.

Vaccaria hispanica, also known as Saponaria vaccaria or Vaccaria pyramidata, is an annual plant from the Caryophyllaceae family, native to Europe and found throughout the Mediterranean region. It is often found in hot and dry places, forming colonies along slopes, roadsides, wastelands, plains, sandy areas, riverbanks, and sometimes at altitudes up to 1500 m. The 'White Beauty' selection forms a well-branched plant with a taproot and fairly thick stems reaching 60 cm in height. The leaves are simple and entire, sessile, ribbed, and opposite, with a grey-blue colour. Flowering begins in May and can last a long time depending on the regularity of sowing. The flower is long-pedunculate, with a long tubular calyx. Its corolla has five petals with scales at the throat, ten stamens, and usually two styles. The fruit is a capsule with four valves. The swollen seed pods that follow the flowers are ornamental.

The 'White Beauty' Soapwort is highly attractive in a cottage garden or cutting garden. It produces abundant graceful flower clusters for weeks. While it adds charm to a natural garden, it is not suitable for small spaces. It can be paired with pretty wildflowers like Ageratum, love-in-a-mist, Goat's Rue, Pyramidal Bellflower, and Dame's Rocket.