Catananche caerulea

Catananche Caerulea, also known as Cupid's dart, is an excellent perennial for dry terrain, both easy to grow and highly ornamental. It blooms generously throughout the summer with small solitary heads in a bright lavender-blue with a violet centre. The flowers are carried on long slender stems above dense grey-green foliage. Its paper-like flowers retain their beauty in dried bouquets. This plant, often condemned to die in humid conditions, self-seeds abundantly in light soil.

Catananche caerulea is a short-lived perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, native to the Mediterranean region. It can be found in dry meadows and grasslands, scrublands, hills, and along pathways, in poor, rocky and limestone soils, up to an altitude of 1500 to 1700m (4921 to 5577ft). When in flower, it forms an upright clump, 55cm (22in) tall and 30cm (12in) in diameter. Its growth is rapid, but winter humidity often causes premature death. Its basal leaves are linear, narrow and evergreen, with a pretty grey-green and silky appearance. From June to August, depending on the climate, it produces small flowers, 3 to 3.5cm (1in) in diameter, with numerous slender petals arranged in a star around a darker centre. Its flowers have pointed tips. The flowering is abundant.

Cupid's dart is a solitary plant, but it is never as beautiful as when in the vicinity of a plant with grey foliage, such as artemisias or sea cineraria. It is a wandering perennial, which loves the sun and tolerates drought very well, carefully choosing light soil where its spontaneous seedlings will emerge. It is perfectly suited for dry meadows, difficult slopes, rockeries, or borders. It can even be grown in pots. A beautiful and very blue display can be created by combining it with flax.

This plant was once used in the preparation of love potions, which explains its common name Cupid's dart. It also pairs well with sedums and artemisias, as well as with the blue alpine thistle.