Corncockle Seeds (Agrostemma githago)

A familiar sight dancing through cornfields, Corncockle is a slender annual wildflower with elegant stems bearing delicate pink‑purple blooms. This historic beauty brings a touch of heritage charm to meadows, margins or pollinator strips, offering vibrant colour and ecological value.

Key Features:

• Graceful, cup-shaped flowers of rose-pink with subtle veining
• Ideal as a "nurse" annual to gibe early bloom in meadow plantings
• Compliments perennial wildflowers
• A native species in decline, where sowing helps restore heritage
• Approx. 80 seeds per 1g

Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) is a slender, softly hairy annual reaching heights of 60 to 100 cm (occasionally more in ideal conditions). Its leaves are narrow and lanceolate, held alternately along the stem, and the plant bears single, showy flowers at intervals. Each bloom is typically 2–3.5 cm across, in hues of pink to purple, often with darker veining or contrasting sepals that extend beyond the petals. After flowering, the plant forms striking flask-shaped seed capsules which, when ripe, release dark, rough seeds.

Historically, corncockle seeds were inadvertently sown along with cereal grain seed, making it common in traditional cornfields. Over the years, as seed-cleaning improved and agricultural practices intensified, the wild populations dwindled. Today, raising corncockle from seed is a small act of botanical restoration. In a meadow mix or sown as a straight, it offers early vertical accent and helps draw in pollinators, especially in the first year before perennials dominate.

Corncockle favours well-drained, lighter soils, sandy loam or free-draining fields, and performs best in full sun. Because the seed is short-lived in the soil, it benefits from fresh sowing in open ground rather than relying on deep soil seed banks. In meadow mixtures, it often plays the role of a gentle companion, not a domineering species, offering fleeting but elegant summer display.

You may sow corncockle either in spring (March to May) or in early autumn (August to October), though autumn sowing often leads to an earlier and more confident bloom the following summer.

Broadcast the seed gently across the area, taking care not to bury it too deeply; a light brush or gentle tamping to around 2–3 mm is sufficient to ensure soil contact while leaving seed exposed enough to benefit from light.

Maintain gentle moisture during the early weeks after sowing, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogging. In its first year, growth may be modest, and flowering might be more restrained, this is entirely normal as the plant establishes itself.

Because corncockle is an annual, it will naturally die back after flowering. In most wildflower or meadow contexts it is not expected to persist indefinitely. If you wish to encourage occasional self-seeding, allow some seed capsules to ripen and fall. On the other hand, if you prefer control, dead‑heading before full seed dispersal will prevent excessive self-seeding.

After flowering, cutting back the stems to tidy the sward is perfectly acceptable. In mixtures or managed meadows, subsequent cultivation or open ground renewal in following seasons helps maintain its return. Avoid high fertility or heavy nitrogen inputs, as these tend to favour vigorous competitors over delicate annuals like corncockle.

For garden applications direct sow at 1g/m2. For overseeding existing meadow planting or for new sowings on larger areas sow at a maximum of 2g/m2.

Corncockle is ideal for inclusion in cornfield annual mixes, meadow fringe strips, and pollinator corridors where a touch of vertical colour is desired. Its pink blooms draw bees, hoverflies and butterflies, offering a modest but meaningful boost to summer forage. The slender structure also provides perching and habitat for slender insects, and its historical character connects present landscapes with past agricultural tradition.

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Q1: Does Corncockle self-seed reliably year to year?

A: Corncockle is an annual meaning they won't reseed themselves each year, but need to be replanted.

Q2: Is Corncockle toxic or dangerous?

A: Yes, all parts of the plant, especially the seeds, contain compounds (such as githagin) that are potentially toxic if ingested. As with many ornamental wildflowers, it is safe handled in the garden, but ingestion should be avoided.

Q3: Can Corncockle be used in perennial meadow mixes?

A: Absolutely. In fact, corncockle is often sown as a nurse crop or companion to give early-season colour while slower perennials establish. It complements rather than competes in mixtures, though periodic re-sowing or open ground management helps maintain its presence.

Q4: When is the flowering window for Corncockle?

A: Expect blooms roughly from June through August (sometimes into September in warm seasons), depending on sowing time and growing conditions