One of the finest perennials for the border we have seen. It has a very long season of flowering lasting well into the autumn and early winter. The dense, double, pin cushion scabious like flowers are a brilliantly strong cherry red, a rare colour in border flowers. Makes a large, neat, rounded bushy plant producing many flowers which are excellent for cutting. Easy to grow and undemanding. Flowers summer/autumn. Height 90-120cm (3-4ft).

Sow from late winter to early summer 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in a good seed compost. Make sure that the compost is moist but not wet and seal in a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 10-30 days at 21-24C (70-75F).

Transplant when large enough to handle into boxes or 7.5cm (3in) pots. Later plant out 40cm (18in) apart into fertile well drained garden soil in a sunny spot.