Propagation
Sow seeds thinly in boxes or beds in late summer to autumn and cover with 5mm of sieved soil. Pricked out when 10 mm tall and plant out or pot up. It takes 3 to 4 months from seed to flower.
Botanic information
Leaf: The sessile grey-green leaves are lanceolate to linear with an acute apex and the texture is smooth but not glossy.
Flower: The rotate flowers have an elongated calyx up to 25mm (1in) long and they are avalable in single and doubles with concentric rings in contrasting colour. They are arranged in a loose terminal panicle that appears above the foliage from late winter to early spring.
Fruit: The small 4-valve cylindrical to oblong capsule contains numerous seeds up to900 per gram. Cultivars are normally propagated vegetatively to maintain true to type.