Headed nailwort (Paronychia capitata)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −28.9 °C

Cultivation

Requires a sunny position succeeding in hot dry soils and tolerating drought once established. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c, perhaps more if in a perfectly drained soil. This report is a little confusing since the same article says that the plant succeeds in climatic zone 5 and should therefore be hardy in almost all of Britain[K]. This species is closely related to P. argentea but is less tolerant of winter cold and wet conditions.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.

Edible uses

An infusion of the flowers is used as a tea.

Medicinal uses

An infusion of the leaves is aphrodisiac and diuretic.

Material uses

Especially useful as a ground cover plant with bulbs, covering the soil after the bulbs have flowered.