A delicate rose-pink colour with contrasting dark and white stripes, known as bee marks. A robust plant habit with sturdy stems, flowering over a long period. Makes a stunning border plant, with excellent garden performance, and being self cleaning, no dead heading is required.
Sow from February to early June on the surface of a good seed compost just covering the seed with a thin layer of compost or vermiculite. Early sowings can be treated like Half Hardy Annuals and will flower in their first year. Germination takes 14-30 days at 15-18C (60-65F). Don't exclude light, sealing in a polythene bag after sowing is helpful.
When large enough to handle, transplant the seedlings to boxes or 7.5cm (3in) pots, and grow on in cooler conditions. When well grown, gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions and plant out in late spring after all risk of frost has passed. Plant 30cm (12in) apart in full sun and well-drained soil.
To treat as a perennial cut down the stems to ground level in the autumn and cover with a thick mulch of compost.