Catchfly Seeds

A little known but worthy annual, catchfly seeds will produce a bevy of pink, purple, or magenta clusters just one to two feet tall. The name originates from its ability to trap small insects by the sticky sap exuded onto the stem, so plant catchfly seeds in your bee and butterfly garden. Give this low-growing annual a chance—it's one of the very easiest wildflowers to grow, it blooms heavily, grows quickly, and will return next year if its seeds fall on bare ground.

• Also known as "None-So-Pretty"
• Classic wildflower that is a welcome addition to any meadow garden.
• Attracts pollinators
• Drought-tolerant

Creating a breathtaking, fragrant display when planted in mass, catchfly offers radiant and rosy blooms to suit any garden or meadow. This flower is native to Europe but has naturalized throughout the United States. Its deer resistant and pollinator attracting qualities make it a perfect garden addition with little to no hassle. Catchfly thrives in garden beds and borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, meadows, and container planting. You can expect catchfly seeds to mature and bloom after just 60 to 90 days and reach heights of two to four feet.

Sow your seeds outdoors in fall or three weeks before the last spring frost. Seeds may also be started indoors eight to ten weeks prior to the last spring frost. Catchfly prefers full sun in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prepare your outdoor seedbed by loosening a few inches of the soil. If starting seeds indoors, sow about 1/4 inch deep, keeping soil moist but not wet. Germination takes about 15 to 25 days. Direct sow or transplant indoor seedlings, spacing plants about eight to ten inches apart. Use a general purpose fertilizer once or twice a season for best performance.

Once plants are established, they prefer slightly dry soils and rarely need watered. Catchfly will benefit from nearby plants, or you can stake them if you feel it is necessary. If you don't want these flowers to spread, be sure to deadhead before the blooms form new seeds.

If you're interested in purple hues of this beautiful species, check out Eden Brothers' Catchfly Seeds, but if you prefer the lighter pink shades, try Eden Brothers' Nodding Catchfly Seeds. You can't go wrong with either variety; in fact, we definitely recommend planting both to create an ombré effect in your garden! Also, catchfly makes a wonderful companion plant for multiple flower species such as asters, cosmos, alyssums, and calendulas.

For more information about planting, growing, and caring for catchfly flower seed, see the Catchfly Seeds Planting Guide.