Sturdy and long lived, with huge flowers 4-5in across of a wonderful blue, shot with violet, on erect stems.

Sow from late winter to summer on the surface of a good, gritty, free-draining seed compost. Make sure the compost is moist but not wet and sow very thinly. After sowing seal inside a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 21-60 days at 13-15C (55-60F). If no germination has occurred after this period, place in a fridge and leave at 3-5C for 2-3 weeks, then return to 13-15C (55-60F). Inspect regularly whilst in the fridge and remove immediately if they start to germinate.

At the two leaf stage, transplant very carefully into 7.5cm (3in) pots only very lightly pressing them into the compost. Grow rapidly in gentle warmth and pot into 10cm (4in) pots when about 3cm (1in) across. Grow on in light shade in a humid atmosphere until early August when they can be planted out 1.2-2m (4-6ft) apart in full sun or part shade and a good, deeply dug, rich, moisture retentive soil.