A cottage garden delight! Large, striking crested blooms of gold, orange, lemon and apricot with a dark contrasting centre. Enjoy them in the garden or use them as beautiful cut flowers. Flowers summer. Height 50cm (20in).

Sow outdoors where they are to flower when the ground becomes workable in March-May or late August-September for overwintering. Cover the seed to a depth of 12mm (½in).

Thin out the young plants to 30cm (12in) apart when large enough to handle. Prefers a well-drained soil and full sun.

Seeds sown out of doors in the autumn for overwintering will flower in late spring /early summer. They can also be sown indoors and treated like half hardy annuals.

The petals have been used as a substitute for saffron, can be made into soup, added to rice puddings, omelets, seafood chowders and they make a bright and zesty addition to tossed salads. Write to us for a free leaflet with recipes for a wide range of edible flowers.