Lovely brassy flowers - living up to their name which means "Cymbal Star" and refers to circular wheels carrying bells which were operated by medieval pipe organs making a continual tinkling sound when played - the cone resembling the wheel and the petals the brass bells.

Introduced by Karl Foerster in 1956., we obtained two varieties under the same name: supposedly a taller form and a more compact form. Having trialled these for a couple of years we are now concluding that the varieties are the same and that Zimbelstern's ultimate height is very dependent on growing conditions ranging between 3ft and 4ft 6in. If your soil is good, rich and moist in summer expect a plant around 4ft tall (possibly 4ft 6in) otherwise the plants will reach around 3ft tall. In our trials both plants where always shorter than the similarly flowered "Goldrausch".

Mail order 9cm: £4.50 (mail order size SOLD OUT for 2008 - order now to reserve for spring delivery)

Large size (to collect) £5.50 - SOLD OUT..