Centaurea dealbata

On Arrival:

• Open the package as soon as it arrives and check the roots.
• Soak the bare roots in a bucket of cool, clean water for 2-3 hours to rehydrate them before planting.
• If planting straight away isn't possible, wrap the roots in damp newspaper or keep them in moist compost in a cool, frost-free place for a few days.

Planting:

• Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Centaurea dealbata is hardy and adaptable but dislikes waterlogged ground.
• Prepare the soil by digging in some garden compost or well-rotted manure. This helps the plants settle quickly and boosts growth.
• Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots out naturally. Position the crown (where the shoots meet the roots) level with the soil surface.
• Backfill, firm gently, and water well. Leave about 45-60cm between plants so they have space to form their clumps.

Aftercare:

• Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil moist while the plants establish in their first season.
• Once established, they're quite drought tolerant but will benefit from a deep soak during prolonged dry spells.
• In spring, apply a general-purpose balanced fertiliser to encourage strong leafy growth and lots of flowers.
• Deadhead regularly through summer to encourage more flowers and to keep plants looking tidy.
• In autumn, once the flowering has finished, cut stems back to the base.
• Apply a mulch of compost around the crown to conserve moisture, enrich the soil and protect roots over winter.

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.