Deepest maroon red to black flowers each with a yellow pheasant eye borne on dwarf, compact plants. These glorious plants are ideal border fillers or can be grown in containers or as pot plants. Either way they also make great cut flowers. Flowers summer. Height: 45-60cm (18-24in).

Sow in February/March for bedding plants or summer pot plants and in late August/September for spring flowering pot plants. Use a good seed sowing compost, surface sow and do not cover the seed with compost, do not exclude light, which is beneficial to germination, usually 14-18 days at 20C (70F).

Transplant when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots, handling with care to avoid root disturbance. Grow on at 13-15C (55-60F). Pinch out the growing point when 15cm (6in) tall, gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days and plant out after all risk of frost 30cm (12in) apart in a sunny sheltered spot. For pot plants pot finally into 13cm (5in) pots.

Overwinter autumn sown pot plants at 13-15C (55-60F).