About
An evergreen, marginal aquatic perennial forming a clump of long-stalked, erect, narrowly ovate leaves to 40cm in length, covered with white powder, and slender stems bearing panicles of purple flowers 2cm across. Although not carnivorous as such, this plant may trap and kill small insects such as hoverflies and small bees during the pollination process.
About the genus
Thalia can be evergreen or deciduous perennials with long-stalked, lance-shaped leaves and long stems bearing violet-purple flowers in panicles
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisturePoorly-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAquatic, Herbaceous Perennial, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesSub-tropical
Native toS US, Mexico
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass, grow in baskets of peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Grow as a marginal aquatic in a planting basket of fertile, loamy, humus-rich soil in up to 15cm of water at the edge of a sunny pool. In colder areas it will become deciduous. See pond plants for further advice
PruningRemove old flowers and leaves regularly
PropagationPropagate by seed sown at 16-21°C, in moist seed compost, when ripe or in spring. Propagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free