Rose of Heaven Seeds — Viscaria oculata — Summer Mix

A Cheerful Cottage Garden Annual — Masses of Delicate Blooms in a Glorious Summer Mix

Viscaria oculata, also known as Rose of Heaven, is a delightful and underrated cottage garden annual that deserves far more attention than it gets. Producing a profusion of slender, upright stems topped with small, five-petalled flowers in a lovely mix of soft pinks, rose, white, and lavender, it creates a light, airy, wildflower-like effect that weaves beautifully through borders and meadow plantings. Easy to grow, quick to flower, and wonderfully free-flowering over a long summer season, Viscaria is a cottage garden gem that rewards minimal effort with maximum charm. An excellent cut flower too, adding a delicate, airy quality to summer posies and arrangements.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🌸 Masses of delicate mixed-colour blooms — soft pinks, rose, white, and lavender; light, airy, and wonderfully free-flowering over a long summer season
• ✂️ Excellent cut flower — slender stems and delicate blooms add a light, airy quality to summer posies and cottage-style arrangements
• 🌿 Wildflower charm — the light, airy habit and mixed colours create a natural, meadow-like effect that weaves beautifully through borders and cottage plantings
• 🐝 Attractive to bees and pollinators — the open flowers are a valuable nectar source for bees and beneficial insects throughout summer
• 🌱 Easy to grow and quick to flower — direct sow in spring or autumn for a reliable, long-flowering display with minimal effort
• 🌱 Self-seeds gently — once established, Viscaria will self-seed lightly around the garden, returning reliably year after year

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow Viscaria oculata direct where it is to flower in spring or early autumn, scattering seeds thinly onto a prepared, well-drained seedbed and raking in lightly. Thin seedlings to around 15–20cm apart. Viscaria prefers a sunny position with well-drained soil and is tolerant of dry conditions once established. It performs particularly well in the cooler months of spring and early summer in NZ, and autumn sowing in mild regions will produce early spring flowers. Deadhead regularly to extend the flowering season, or allow to self-seed for a naturalistic effect. An excellent choice for cottage borders, cutting gardens, and wildflower-style plantings throughout NZ.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 25 seeds of Viscaria oculata Summer Mix, with growing instructions included.