Beautiful lacy bracts surrounding the smaller flower sport shades of blue, lavender, white, and pink – depending upon the variety give them their popularity.  Other colors that show up with these annual flowers are mauve, and deep purple.  They are a sought after, often heirloom favorite since Victorian days and before.  Native to Southern Europe and popular in English cottage gardens since Elizabethan times they are a favorite for those who like to dry flowers and paint floral pictures.