Catananche caerulea Alba

Catananche caerulea 'Alba', also known as Cupid's dart, is the white form of a perennial plant for dry soil more commonly found in its blue form. It is a sun-loving plant. It generously blooms throughout the summer with small, solitary white flower heads with a purple base and cream centre, carried on long, slender stems above dense, grey-green basal foliage. Its papery-textured flowers retain their beauty in dried bouquets. This plant, often condemned to die in humid conditions, abundantly self-seeds in light soil.

Catananche caerulea is a short-lived perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, native to the Mediterranean region. It can be found in dry meadows and grasslands, scrublands, hills, and along pathways, in poor, rocky and limestone soils, up to an altitude of 1500 to 1700m (4921 to 5577ft). When in flower, it forms an upright clump, 55cm (22in) tall and 30cm (12in) in diameter. Its growth is rapid, but winter humidity often causes premature death. Its basal leaves are linear, narrow and evergreen, with a pretty grey-green and silky appearance. From June to August, depending on the climate, it produces small flowers, 3 to 3.5cm (1in) in diameter, with numerous slender petals arranged in a star around a darker centre. Its flowers have pointed tips. The flowering is abundant.

Cupid's dart is a solitary plant, but it is never as beautiful as when paired with a plant with grey foliage, such as artemisias or silver ragwort. It is a wandering perennial that loves the sun and tolerates drought very well, carefully choosing light soil where its spontaneous seedlings will emerge. It is perfectly suited for dry meadows, difficult embankments, rockeries, or borders. It can even be grown in pots.

This plant was once used for preparing love potions, which explains its common name Cupid's dart. It also pairs well with sedums and artemisias, or even with the blue alpine thistle.