Jupiter's beard is just starting to bloom.

Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus Ruber Coccineus Red) - Attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to your garden by growing Jupiter's Beard from flower seeds. The vibrant red of Jupiter's Beard is a wonderful source of color for the perennial garden. It grows 24 - 32 inches tall, so it's perfect for the middle of the garden, and the bright red blooms appear all summer long above spear shaped, gray-green foliage. It makes a great cut flower.
Growing Jupiter's Beard from flower seed is very rewarding and easy. Approximately 1000 seeds covers 75 square feet. It should be spaced about 12 to 15 inches apart in the sunny garden (light shade is fine as well). Jupiter's Beard is very long-lived, and it asks for only ordinary garden soil with good drainage. After it's established, it is considered to be fairly drought tolerant. Deadheading will keep the plant flowering fuller and later into the season. If the plant stops blooming due to heat, cut the plant back by 1/3 - 1/2 to promote another round of blooms later in the summer.
Sow Jupiter's Beard flower seed indoors in starter trays 6 - 8 weeks before the end of frost season. Keep flower seeds continuously moist until germination. Transplant seedling outdoors when frost danger has passed. Or, directly sow Jupiter's Beard flower seeds outdoors into prepared soil in spring when temperatures are consistently warm. Jupiter's Beard is a liberal self-sower. Deadhead spent blooms if you do not want Jupiter's Beard flower seed to spread.
 
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