Despite its Mediterranean origins, the spur flower (Centranthus) has been grown in Central European castle and monastery gardens since the Middle Ages. In a suitably selected and prepared location, caring for the grateful flowering plant is not very time-consuming for the gardener.
How do you properly care for the spur flower?
Caring for the spur flower includes regular watering without waterlogging, occasional fertilizing with compost, repotting in spring and pruning after the first flowering for a second flowering period. It is robust against diseases and pests and hibernates well at temperatures down to minus 20 degrees.
How regularly should you water the spur flower?
The spur flower is sensitive to waterlogging in the soil, which is why it should be grown in a location with well-drained soil or in the area of sunny dry stone walls and rock gardens. Nevertheless, the soil must not dry out completely. During longer dry periods, daily, sparing watering may be advisable during the flowering period. However, this should only be done in the morning and evening hours so that the flowers do not “burn”.
When is it safe to repot the spur flower?
The best time for repotting is in spring, when the plant is just beginning to sprout. At this point, propagation by root division should also be carried out in order to rejuvenate older specimens and obtain strong offshoots. After dividing and/or transplanting, the plants should be watered sufficiently.
When and how should the spur flower be cut?
Since the spur flower naturally only grows to around 80 centimeters high and grows rather compactly, pruning to limit the size is actually not necessary. However, it can make sense to cut off the wilted flowers immediately after flowering if self-sowing in the garden is undesirable. In addition, a slight pruning down to the leaf material after the first flowering can stimulate a second flowering period from August until autumn.
Which pests or diseases are problematic for the spur flower?
The spur flower is generally very insensitive to diseases and usually does not show any particular infestation with pests. On the contrary: spur flowers often attract numerous beautiful butterflies to their nectar-rich flowers.
Should spur flowers be fertilized regularly?
Spur flowers generally do not require any special fertilization as they are rather undemanding. Therefore, if the subsoil is sufficiently permeable, occasional additions of compost are sufficient to provide nutrients.
Can spur flowers be overwintered?
The Centranthus species, which originally come from the Mediterranean region, have no problem overwintering in the ground, even with frosts down to minus 20 degrees. However, the following factors should be taken into account during the winter:
- Sow seeds by September at the latest so that the young plants get through the winter well
- Choose locations with full sun if possible
- cut off the wilted plant parts in autumn and cover with a layer of mulch (not mandatory)
Tip
The flowers of the spur flower not only bloom quite persistently in the garden, but can also be used perfectly as cut flowers for the vase. As with removing spent inflorescences, cutting off individual flowers for the vase also stimulates the formation of new flower buds in the same year.
