Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) is a striking annual wildflower that brightens gardens with vivid magenta-purple flowers surrounded by long, starry sepals. Once common in traditional cornfields, it is now widely grown in wildflower gardens and meadows. Its pollen and nectar provide an important food source for butterflies, moths and other pollinating insects. Corncockle seeds thrive in light, free-draining soil in a sunny position, although the plants will also grow well in heavier soils. Perfect for a wildlife garden, it combines beautifully with other classic meadow flowers such as cornflower, corn poppy and oxeye daisy. The seed is cleaned and untreated. A 7.5 g packet contains approximately 500 seeds, enough to sow up to around 3 m² depending on sowing density. Growing Instructions Corncockle can be sown in spring or autumn and will germinate best when sown into warm, moist soil. Choose a full sun site with light, free-draining soil and remove any existing vegetation. Lightly cultivate the soil surface to create a fine, loose seedbed. Scatter the seeds onto the surface, gently rake in and firm down. Keep the seedbed moist until germination, which usually occurs within two weeks. Do not apply fertiliser, as wildflowers prefer soils low in nutrients. To prolong flowering, remove dead flower heads as the season progresses. Corncockle is an annual, dying back at the end of the season. Plants shed their seeds in autumn, which can naturally replenish the plot with new plants in future years.
