A native of moist meadows and woodland edges, this is a wonderful plant for naturalised planting schemes. In midsummer, slender upright stems are topped with rounded clusters of mauve or deep purple flowerheads. These are produced freely over a long period, making it great value for money, and the bees and butterflies will flock to it. It will be happiest in a moist soil that does not dry out in summer, and it will self-seed freely, but pink or white flowered plants may result.