Exquisite flowers for the spring garden and a superb source of cut flowers. One of the chief favourites among garden flowers, with long stems and bright saucer-like flowers. To make them last a really long time cut while in bud and seal stems off with boiling water or flame.

Sow in late spring/early summer outdoors in a well prepared seed bed. Sow the seeds very thinly 6mm (¼ inch) in drills 25cm (10 inches) apart, keep the soil damp until germination takes place and thin out the seedlings if crowded when large enough to handle.

Transplant 30-45cm (12-18 inches) apart into flowering site in the autumn for flowering the following year.

They prefer full sun and well drained soil but will grow well in most soils.