Eritrichium Canum

Description

This is the wild form of the gorgeous annual which bears many erect stems, the dazzling blue flowers opening on many-branched stems in summer and until recently it was extremely rare. In the wild it is found from central Asia to Tibet, and Nepal to Afghanistan, in both screes and rock ledges in the drier zones at 2400-4500m. Its flowering power is such that no matter when the seeds are planted - early or late - it will grow and flower quite late into autumn.

Sowing Advice

Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.

Key Facts