Growing and sowing Corncockle

Corncockle (Agrostemma githago), also called common corn-cockle, corn-pink, and crown of the field, is an annual plant that originally grew in fields. However, modern agricultural methods have made it almost disappear. Nowadays this plant is widely grown as an ornamental plant and cut flower. The plant blooms with funnel-shaped, pinkish-purple flowers and, depending on the location and type, can grow to a height of about 20 cm to 100 cm. The seeds are poisonous.

Sowing and growing Corncockle

Corncockle is an annual native plant from the Caryophyllaceae family. This easy-to-grow plant blooms with funnel-shaped pink and purple flowers. Corncockle combines well with other annual flowers such as poppies and cornflowers and is very suitable as a cut flower for use in bouquets, for example.

Sowing Corncockle in the garden

Sowing can be done directly in open ground from March/April to June. Cover the seeds with approximately 1 cm of soil. When sowing, ensure that the seeds are not sown too close together. Maintain a distance of approximately 20 cm, or thin out the plants after emergence if they stand too close together.

Direct to the Corncockle Seeds >

Position and soil for sowing corncockle

Corncockle needs a sunny spot. The soil should be well-drained, moderately fertile and somewhat calcareous.

How to care for your Corncockle plants

Water regularly, especially in dry periods. The soil must remain constantly moist, but not too wet. Fertilization is not necessary.

Is Corncockle bee and/or butterfly friendly?

Corncockle is an insect-friendly plant that attracts many bees, bumblebees and other pollinators.

Corncockle in the vegetable garden

The seeds of the corncockle are poisonous. This is partly the reason why the plant is practically no longer found in the wild, as it was eradicated from cornfields to prevent the seeds from ending up in the flour. However, the plant does attract many pollinators, which is of course important for increasing biodiversity in the garden and pollinating other crops. It is also a beautiful cut flower.

Is Corncockle edible and/or medicinal?

Corncockle, and especially the seeds are poisonous!

Please note, we at Dutch Garden Seeds do not give medical advice. Always ask a professional if and how the plant can be used medicinally.

Corncockle seeds in our collection

We have corncockle seeds in our range, organic seeds from the brand 'Buzzy Organic Seeds'.

Tips for Corncockle sowing

• Leave dead stems on plants in autumn and winter. Not only does this look attractive, but bees can sometimes hibernate in them.
• Support the plants as they grow taller to prevent them from falling over.

Direct to the Corncockle Seeds >