Cupid's dart is a charming short-lived perennial that brings ethereal blue-lavender flowers to the summer and fall garden from July through September. The blooms, which reach about 2 inches across, sit atop delicate wiry stems rising 12 to 24 inches tall, their papery bracts creating an almost delicate, papery quality that feels otherworldly. Native to the aster family and hardy in zones 4 through 7, this heirloom thrives in full sun with modest water needs and rewards low-maintenance gardeners with reliable color when many other perennials are fading.
1
Full Sun
Moderate
4-7
24in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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Blue to lavender-blue flowers emerge singly on naked, wiry stems throughout the summer and fall months, each bloom subtended by overlapping papery bracts that give them an almost architectural quality. The plant forms a tidy clump of narrow, grass-like gray-green foliage at its base, creating an elegant contrast to the showy flower display. Butterflies find these blooms irresistible, making Cupid's dart a pollinator magnet that performs beautifully in full sun with moderate water and nearly no fussing once established.
Cupid's dart excels as a cut flower, with blooms that last well in the vase and add an airy, whimsical quality to floral arrangements. In the garden, it shines in borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator plantings where its delicate stems and blue flowers create a cloud-like effect among more solid perennials.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting, keeping temperatures at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seed on the surface or barely covered (1/16 inch deep) and expect sprouting in 10 to 20 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date, hardening them off gradually to full sun over 7 to 10 days before planting into amended garden soil.
Direct sow in spring to early summer, scattering seed on the surface or barely covering it (1/16 inch). Water gently to keep the soil moist until germination occurs.
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