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James Burghardt
Caryophyllaceae
Agrostemma githago
Corn Cockle
The delicate scalloped pink flowers of common corn cockle bloom bloom from early to late summer above slender stems lined with fine, pale green leaves. This southeastern European native self-sows prodigiously and has become naturalized across most of North America in all but a few western states and provinces. Here it is most commonly found growing on roadsides, cultivated fields and other disturbed sites.
The fuzzy stems of this summer annual are lined with slender, opposite leaves with bulbous bases. When summer conditions are warm and favorable, delicate, five-petaled, pink to pale pink flowers are produced at the stem tips. These attract many insect pollinators including bees and butterflies. The seed capsules that follow are filled with seed that typically germinate in fall, overwinter as young plants and bloom the following season.
Full sun and average soil with good drainage is needed for good health and flowering. Plants look best when provided regular water but can withstand brief periods of drought. Natural populations are commonly found in the fields and hills of countries like Greece where weather conditions tend to be drier.
Common corn cockle is an airy, attractive summer annual, but it's tendency to become weedy should dissuade gardeners from planting it.
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Annual
Full Sun, Partial Sun
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Clump-Forming
Spring, Summer
Showy
White, Pink, Hot Pink
Brown
Green, Light Green
Yes
No
Single
Fine
Matte
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Sometimes
Butterflies
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