Corn Cockle Seed
Agrostemma githago • Caryophyllaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Wildflower
🌍 Origin Region
Europe and western Asia; widely naturalized across North America and temperate regions globally.
📅 Days to Maturity
60 to 90 days from planting to first bloom.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9; grown as a hardy annual.
About This Seed
The seed is small, kidney-shaped to angular, dark brown to black, featuring a distinctive deeply pitted or honeycomb-like reticulate surface texture. The resulting plant is an erect, slender annual wildflower growing 2 to 3 feet tall with grey-green linear leaves and striking funnel-shaped purple-pink to magenta flowers.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring or Fall sowing; direct sow outdoors; frost tolerant once established.
Germination
Germinates in 7 to 14 days at optimal soil temperatures of 65°F to 70°F. High germination rate with no special pre-treatment or scarification required.
Planting Instructions
Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep in well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Space seeds about 6 to 12 inches apart in sunny garden beds.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6 to 8 hours daily). Water moderately during establishment; highly drought-tolerant once mature.
Companion Plants
Grows well with other traditional grain-field wildflowers like poppies and cornflowers. Avoid planting near sensitive edible crops due to toxicity.
Special Characteristics
Highly attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. Note that all parts of the plant, including the seeds, are toxic if ingested due to saponins.