Prefers an acid peaty soil but it succeeds in sun or shade in most well-drained soils and climates. A very ornamental plant, but it can be invasive. The flowers the flowers secrete a sweet liquid that is very attractive to flies. The flies are then imprisoned by their proboscis which becomes trapped between the short filaments of the stamens

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer and overwintered outdoors. The seed requires a period of cold stratification if it is to germinate well. Prick out the seedlings when large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring just before active growth begins. Plants can also be divided in the autumn.