Corn Cockle is an annual flowering herb and weed in the Carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) native to Europe that has naturalized in most of the USA and can be found in all areas of NC mostly in disturbed areas as meadows, fields and roadsides. The Genus name is from 2 ancient Greek words meaning “field” and “garland, crown." The plant will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 1-1.5 feet wide and needs full sun in loamy or sandy soils. It produces many seeds so can spread quickly. It is considered invasive in WV, VA and MD and is on the NH watch list. There are some cultivars available in different colors. The flowers are solitary and showy with 5 pink to purple petals that bloom all summer. The stems are hairy with opposite narrow leaves. Corn Cockle is poisonous to livestock, birds, and humans. It is becoming increasingly rare in agricultural areas due to modern farm practices. It could potentially be used in the border of a cutting or cottage garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for powdery mildew.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, sessile, narrow, hairy and simple up to 6 inches long. They are lanceolate to linear in outline with entire margins and the bases of the leaves somewhat clasp the stem.
Flower color
Black; Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are 1-2 inches wide with 5 pink or purplish petals that have 2-3 black lines per petal and 5 sepals that extend beyond the petals. They grow mostly singly on long stalks from the leaf axils all summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruit is a capsule with numerous black, pitted seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
silky-haired, slender stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe
Distribution
Naturalized in USA
Wildlife value
Flowers attract bees and hummingbirds
Attracts
Bees; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#poisonous #purple flowers #pink flowers #roadside #fields #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #annual #meadow #weedy #cutting garden #naturalized area
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Weedy
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
All parts are poisonous to humans, livestock and birds. Symptoms may include severe stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, slow breathing.
Toxic principle
Glycoside githagenin
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems