This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• Position: full sun or lightly dappled shade
• Soil: fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: March to May
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A low-growing, bushy perennial that produces a very pretty display of purple-blue, pea-like flowers in spring. This is an excellent plant for kick-starting the display in the herbaceous border, where it will associate well with spring flowering Lamprocapnos (Dicentra), Omphalodes, Primula and Pulmonarias. After the flowers have faded the foliage starts to die back and by midsummer it is all but gone, so make sure you plant it with late summer flowering perennials, which will grow into the gap it leaves behind.
  
  
• Garden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted organic matter in the planting hole. Feed with a high potash fertiliser, such as Tomorite to encourage plenty of flowers. Don't forget to keep cutting the flowers so that you get plenty more!