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Caryophyllaceae
Corn Cockle
Agrostemma githago
Gentility and grace.
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Genus
- Agrostemma
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- annual herb
- Height
- 2-3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, average soil
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 3-9
- Lifespan
- annual
Did you know
- Corn Cockle was once so common in wheat fields that its toxic seeds contaminated flour, causing occasional poisoning episodes in medieval Europe.
- The seeds contain saponins called githagin, which are toxic to humans and livestock but were once used as a soap substitute.
- Modern agriculture has made it nearly extinct in the wild, and it is now deliberately grown in wildflower meadows for conservation.
- The slender, willowy stems and silky petals give it an ethereal quality that has made it a favorite of cottage garden designers.
- Its genus name Agrostemma means 'crown of the field' in Greek, reflecting its former abundance in grain fields.
Color meanings
0
gentleness
1
natural elegance