Silene oculata Patio Mixed

The Silene oculata Patio Mixed, also known as Sky Pink, is a mix of small single flowers, with open cups in white, mauve, pink, magenta, or carmine red, around a contrasting black or white heart. This annual plant, with very thin leaves, erects long stems that gracefully dance in the wind. Absolutely delightful in large clumps in rock gardens or borders, these streamlined silenes flower for months. They thrive in full sun, fertile, well-drained soil.

Silene coeli-rosa, sometimes called Agrostemma coeli-rosa, Lychnis coeli-rosa, or Viscaria elegans, is a fast-growing, herbaceous annual plant with a slender silhouette, native to the Mediterranean region. This plant, belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family and related to carnations, shows rapid growth and good hardiness, allowing it to be sown early in spring or even in autumn in not-too-cold climates. The 'Patio Mixed' selection gathers cultivars with a wide range of colours, excluding shades of yellow and orange. Each plant produces a basal clump of small elliptical to lanceolate, grey-green leaves, from which rises a sparsely leafed stem, 45cm (18in) tall. Flowering takes place in summer, lasting for many weeks. Each stem produces small flowers with 5 petals surrounded by a swollen calyx, beautifully coloured. The centre of the corolla is usually black, sometimes white, or the same tone as the petals.

Silenes are perhaps the most beautiful annuals, due to their infinite lightness and their small, shiny flowers. They enchant flower beds, rock gardens, and borders, where they create spots of vibrant colour. The 'Patio Mixed' mix brings the charm of flowering meadows to our gardens. Sow it in slightly wild flower beds, it will be sublime accompanied by ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or Mulhenbergia capillaris, catmints, with pink, blue, or white Damask Nigellas, California poppies, purple Centaurea, an ornamental carrot... It is also an excellent cut flower.