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Crinkled pinkish-purple petals that surround a darker reddish purple centre form giant bowl-shaped flowers on upright bristly stems. These are one of the most showy of all the early summer perennials and once the petals fall the seedheads will slowly ripen and create an interesting feature which can be left in the garden for several months or picked and dried before adding to indoor arrangements. Their spectacular flowers look incredible when incorporated into a cottage-garden or try planting them alongside grasses in prairie-style schemes.

• Garden care: Cut back to ground level after flowering. Lift and divide large clumps in autumn. Cut back to ground level after flowering. Lift and divide large clumps in autumn.