The botanical name of Corncockle is Agrostemma
githago. The plant typically flowers in the summer. Corncockle is actually
common in the United Kingdom.
Agrostemma Plant Info
Corncockle plants are medium sizes
plants that can grow to between sixty and ninety centimeter in height. The Corncockle
plants have very small trumpet shaped dark pink flowers. Agrostemma is actually
an ideal plant for growing in borders and cottage gardens.
Actually, the Agrostemma genus
consists of just 2 species and is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family. This
family contains forty-two genera including Campions (Silene), Carnations
(Dianthus) and sandworts (Stellaria). The genus actually originated in the
Mediterranean region of Europe and is now widespread throughout the world.
However, most gardeners often use the
Agrostemma in cottage and meadow gardens it is considered a weed of wheat
fields (Corncockle is native to the UK, and the word Corn is used to describe wheat
in England, Oats in Scotland, and Maize in the USA).
Some of the varieties of the 2
species of Agrostemma that are often grown in gardens include: Corn cockle
(Agrostemma githago), varieties include Common, Purple Queen, Milas, Contessa
Pale Pink, Milas Rose Queen, Narrow Corn Cockle (Agrostemma brachyloba) and
Ocean pearl Cockle.
Agrostemma Growing Guide
The common names: The common names are
Narrow, Contessa Pale Pink, Milas, Purple Queen, Milas Rose Queen, Ocean pearl.
The life cycle: The plant is hardy
annual.
The height: The height is about
twenty to thirty-six inches
Native area: The plant is native to Mediterranean,
Europe.
USDA: Zones one to ten.
The flowers: The plant flowers from mid-spring
through to Mid-summer.
The flower details: The flower is pink,
purple in color. They are cup/vase-shaped.
The foliage: Pale green.
Sowing outside: Sow them 1/8 inch (3
mm), following the last frost. Space them nine to twelve inches.
Sowing inside: The seed germination
time is about 2 to 3 weeks. Temperature fifty-five to sixty-five degree Fahrenheit.
7 or 8 weeks in advance. Transplant them outdoors following the last frost or
in autumn (in warm climates).
Plant requirements: The plant prefers
full sunlight or partial shade. Good drainage. Loam. Deadheading.
How to Grow Corncockle
It is actually best to sow the Corncockle
seeds at a depth of 1/4 cm, with a spacing of twenty-two to thirty centimeter,
in early spring after the last frost as occurred. Corncockle actually prefers
to grow in full sunlight. The soil for planting should ideally be a rich loam,
though the plant is capable of surviving in most soils. The corncockle seeds requires
between 2 or 3 weeks for germination to occur.
If initiating growth indoors then it
is best to sow the corncockle seeds at a temperature of 13 to 18 degrees
Centigrade 7or 8 weeks before planting outdoors in the early spring or late
autumn in milder climates.
Corncockle Care
Agrostemma is very easy to take care
of, the plant requires watering in dry spells during the summer, and also the
removal of dead flower heads to stop seed set, and the plant from becoming a
weed. Actually the seeds of the plant are very poisonous; make sure you handle them
with care.
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