Thompson & Morgan Kew 'Knapweed' seeds

A firm favourite for wildlife gardens, this variety comes from the range developed in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Common Knapweed is a true British wildflower, bringing glowing pink-purple, thistle-like blooms to borders and meadow-style plantings from June right through to September. Low-maintenance and unfussy, it's a fabulous choice for cottage gardens, informal borders, and wildlife areas alike, and its nectar-rich flowers are especially popular with butterflies.

Direct sow outdoors from March to April, in a sunny position on well-drained soil raked to a fine tilth. Sow thinly at a depth of around 3mm, in drills spaced 30cm apart, watering regularly during dry spells — germination typically takes 14-21 days. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to around 15cm apart. Alternatively, sow indoors from August to September for flowering the following summer, surface-sowing onto seed compost at 15-20°C and covering lightly with vermiculite, without excluding light. Reaching around 75cm in height with a spread of 50cm, it thrives in poor soils and is hardy throughout the UK.

Each pack is hand-selected before dispatch to ensure the best possible germination results.