The Fairy-Like Flower That Deserves A Spot In Your Garden

Creating a whimsical garden is all about picking the right plants. The perfect cottage garden generally includes a variety of different flowers for maximum impact. One bloom to consider adding to your garden to provide an extra dose of charm is the dainty white corncockle (Agrostemma githago 'Alba' or 'Bianca White'). They're so fairy-like, they may even inspire you to DIY a fairy house in your backyard.

These plants are annuals, so if you don't want white corncockles year after year, you can deadhead them before they go to seed. Otherwise, you may find them overwhelming your garden thanks to the number of seeds they can produce. With a height of only about 2 or 3 feet, white corncockles can add a beautiful fairy-like element to your garden thanks to their delicate flowers, which are usually a little over an inch in size. They are also well-liked by pollinators, including bees. Be aware, though, that if you have pets or small children, these might not be the right plants for you, as they are quite poisonous to people, pets, birds, and livestock. 

Native to Europe, corncockles thrive as annuals throughout the United States. In addition to their toxicity, corncockles can also have the downside of potentially becoming weedy and are considered invasive in some states, including West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Fortunately, there are many other whimsical flowers like cosmos that can be grown there as alternatives.

White corncockles grow and flower best in full to partial sun and thrive in sandy and silty soils. They grow particularly well in well-draining soils. White corncockles aren't just beautiful, they're also deer resistant, so they may be ideal if you've been struggling to find flowers that won't be nibbled away by the pests. Whether you add them into an existing cottage garden or create a downright magical fairy garden with them, white corncockles are a great way to add some old-fashioned whimsy to your yard and garden.