Non-sprawling upright completely weather resistant, very hardy plant that makes vivid splashes of scarlet. The 6in blooms are the most eyecatching of all border plants, from hundreds of feet away. They are excellent long-lived border plants, happy in most sites and soils, with bold foliage and large cup-shaped flowers. At its best in small groups in the herbaceous border. Flowers late spring to early summer. Height: 40-50cm (16-20in).

Sow from late winter to early summer for flowering the following year, at 13C (55F) on the surface of a good seed compost. Keep soil damp but not wet. Do not exclude light, sealing in a polythene bag after sowing is helpful. Germination usually takes 10-21 days. They can also be sown thinly outdoors in spring, into a well raked seed bed and planted out in the autumn.

When seedlings are large enough to handle transplant into boxes or individually into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions and plant out 30cm (12in) apart from mid spring onwards in full sun and ordinary garden soil.