About
Upright annual to 50cm tall, with fern-like light-green leaves to 12cm long and tubular flowers of white, yelllow, pink, purple or red to 8cm across with violet markings, streaked and spotted in contrasting colours, and produced from spring to autumn.
About the genus
Schizanthus are showly annuals with pinnately dissected leaves and terminal clusters of orchid-like, 2-lipped flowers in a wide range of colours and often with a contrasting eye, from spring to autumn
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained, Moist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun, water moderately and apply a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks. Outdoors during summer, grow in fertile moist but well-drained soil in full sun
PruningPinch out young tips to promote bushy growth and cut back after flowering; flowering stems may need supporting
PropagationPropagate from seed in mid-spring for summer to autumn flowering plants or propagate in late summer for winter-flowering container plants under glass
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids under glass
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free