About

This perennial forms a compact, bushy clump and features blue-green, semi-evergreen leaves. From spring through autumn, it produces small, funnel-shaped flowers that are pinkish-red and appear in dense clusters.

About the genus

Centranthus can be either annuals or perennials, characterized by typically simple, opposite leaves and clusters of small, trumpet-shaped blooms arranged at the tips of the stems.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.5-1 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in a well-drained soil that is poor to moderately fertile, ideally a chalky or stony soil. Good drought resistance; thrives on walls and in coastal gardens. Needs full sun to flower well
Pruning
Cut down stems in autumn or if self-seeding is a problem then cut back hard in July after their first flowering
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in spring
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free