Centranthus ruber Pretty Betsy - seeds

Centranthus ruber 'Pretty Betsy' is a selection of Garden Valerian that stands out from the species by its flowers that are a pinkish-red colour. It is a robust perennial that forms a beautiful rounded clump and blooms enthusiastically, even in very dry soils in summer. Its flowering, which resembles small clusters of lilacs from a distance, attracts a multitude of butterflies. Almost foolproof, with the indescribable charm and untamed character of wild plants, it brings a lot of charm to flower beds and shrubs. It self-seeds freely, sometimes even in walls.

Native to southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, Garden Valerian has recently been classified as a member of the Caprifoliaceae family and not the Valerianaceae family. Unlike typical valerians, its tiny flowers have a long arched spur, which serves as a nectar reserve for butterflies. It is a herbaceous perennial with a strong woody base, anchored by rhizomes. It grows in a bushy, upright and spreading clump, reaching an average height of 70 cm (27.6 inches) with a diameter of 50 cm (19.7 inches), depending on the growing conditions (it is often taller in fertile soil). The clump is composed of hollow and fleshy, brittle stems covered with a bloom. They bear small deciduous to semi-evergreen leaves, depending on the climate. They are thick and fleshy, jade green to glaucous green. Sheathing towards the top of the plant, they are petiolate towards the base of the clump and are oval to lanceolate in shape. Their dimensions do not exceed 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 inches) in length and 1.2 cm (0.5 inches) in width. The flowering period extends, depending on the region, from May to September-October, sometimes almost all year round in very mild climates. In the 'Pretty Betsy' variety, the tiny, pink-red flowers are grouped in branched clusters and are borne on the upper part of the stems, above the foliage. They are very nectar-rich. Note that this perennial will live longer in dry and poor soil. It self-seeds spontaneously in light soils.

Centranthus ruber 'Pretty Betsy', like rose campions, gauras, and Erigeron karvinskianus, is one of those nearly foolproof perennials that deserve a place in every garden. Very floriferous and not demanding about the type of soil as long as it is well-drained, centranthus plants freely evolve in a garden, filling in the empty spaces between perennials or shrubs. They even grow spontaneously in wall crevices. These perennials bring a lot of lightness to flower beds and are very useful for quickly filling a poor slope or a brand new garden. They are excellent plants for dry or Mediterranean gardens which can lack flowers in summer. Varieties with white, pink, mauve, or red flowers can be combined to create beautiful colourful masses. They can also be paired with spurges for dry terrain, cornflowers, poppies, Damask nigellas, and many others.