An amazing colour. Excellent quality, large, lightly fragrant, deep blue-velvet blooms, so dark they almost look black shimmering in the summer sunshine.

An intriguing border cut flower, ideal for exhibition.

Soak seeds overnight in warm water before sowing, 1cm (½in) deep, 3 seeds per 7.5cm (3in) pot, in free draining, damp, seed compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 20-25C (68-77F) until after germination which takes 7-21 days. Do not exclude light.

Spring sowings can be sown outdoors, 2.5cm (1in) deep, in drills 7.5cm (3in) apart.

Over-winter October sown plants in cooler conditions such as a coldOframe before planting out in spring when the ground has warmed, 23-30cm (9-12in) apart

Pinch out growing point once the second pair of leaves has opened. Water freely in dry weather and apply well-rotted manure occasionally. Remove faded flowers regularly.

Harmful if eaten