SAPONARIA PINK BEAUTY

A very attractive and showy annual with many graceful sprays of deep pink flowers produced in profusion. Very easy to grow and an excellent cut flower. 2'.

Sow outdoors into a cold frame in the autumn or sow indoors at any time. In a cold frame, sow onto moist, well-drained seed compost just covering the seed with a sprinkling of soil. Allow natural winter cold to offer ideal conditions for germination to occur in spring as the weather warms.

If sowing indoors, surface sow and place in a propagator or somewhere warm at an ideal temperature of 60-64F (16-18°C). for 2-4 weeks then cold stratify. Move to 24-39F (-4-+4°C) for 4-6 weeks, a fridge is ideal. Remove to warmth, 41-53 (5-12°C) for germination. Acclimatise and plant out after  all danger of frost has passed. Prefers a moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Do not plant near ponds or rivers as the plant contains saponins which can be toxic to amphibians or fish.