Schizanthus

( skye - ZANTH - us )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly called Poor Man's Orchid, Butterfly Flower or Fringeflower, is filled with annual plants which need filtered sun and regular water to perform well in the landscape. Butterfly Flower produces a profuse show of orchid-like flowers that can bloom in pink, rose, lilac, purple, or white, with flowering stems that reach up to a foot tall. All varieties have flowers marked with various colors and are long lasting in flower arrangements. Use Schizanthus flowers in mixed beds and borders, in container gardens, or as members of cut flower, pollinator, informal, or tropical gardens.

Schizanthus Species and Varietals

The genus Schizanthus is a member of the plant family Solanaceae and includes 12 species. Butterfly Flower grows well in zones 1-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Schizanthus carlomunozii (Butterfly Flower, Poor Man's Orchid)
​This species of Schizanthus is native to Chile, and produces pink flowers with yellow centers and dark markings. Plants reach up to 18 inches tall when mature and in bloom. 

Schizanthus pinnatus (Butterfly Flower, Poor Man's Orchid, Mariposita, Mariposita Blanca)
This species is native to Chile, and has naturalized in many areas of the world. Individual plants reach up to between 8 and 20 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Blooms are white, pink, or violet with dark markings towards their centers and yellow or white nectar guides. 

Schizanthus x wisetonensis (Hybrid Butterfly Flower, Hybrid Poor Man's Orchid, Planta de Mariposa)
This hybrid is a cross between Schizanthus pinnatus and Schizanthus grahahmii, and reaches up to between 12 and 16 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Flowers are white, blue, pink, or rose and foliage is light green and ferny.

Caring for Schizanthus

Plant in springtime where summers are mild and in fall in areas where summers are hot. They grow best in an area of the landscape that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Around 6 hours of sun is perfect for the best blooms. They prefer rich, well-draining soil and a site in the garden that is sheltered from winds. Soil should also have a pH of between 5.8 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). ). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Schizanthus appreciates consistently moist soils but not soggy substrate, which can lead to fungal issues like root rot.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Schizanthus plants are annuals and are typically pulled at the end of the growing season and replaced in the next.

Harvesting Schizanthus Cut Flowers
Schizanthus, or Poor Man's Orchid, is commonly grown as a member of cut flower gardens. In arrangements, these flowers are perfect for adding height and bright color. Blooms resemble miniature Orchids, and as older blooms fade, they drop from stems and new ones appear. Taller varieties, such as 'Angel's Wings Mix' are especially useful for arranging. They can last for between 7 and 10 days in water. To harvest Schizanthus flowers, cut the stems back to the base of the plant and place them in a bucket of cool water immediately.

Propagation

Schizanthus plants are annuals, and are typically best propagated by harvesting and sowing seeds. These flowers will freely re-seed in the garden, and intentional propagation is not always necessary; volunteer seedlings can simply be gently transplanted. To propagate your Schizanthus, or Poor Man's Orchid, follow the instructions below.

Propagating Schizanthus by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Schizanthus ​plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Whiteflies
  • Slugs and Snails
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Root Rot
  • Leaf Spot
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:

Gallery

Bees are important pollinators of Schizanthus plants.
It is easy to see why Schizanthus is called Poor Man's Orchid once you see the flowers.
These delicate blooms typically come in pinks and whites.
Schizanthus seedlings.
Schizanthus plants have a bushy habit with flowers that are held above foliage on thin stems.
The foliage of these plants is ferny and green.
This mixed bed features Schizanthus and Honeysuckle.
There are many flower colors to choose from when selecting a Schizanthus.
Schizanthus flowering stems can be tall or short, depending on the species grown.

Videos

Growing Schizanthus from seed.
A quick video on pinching back Schizanthus plants.

Resources

Schizanthus pinnatus (Butterfly Flower, Poorman's Orchid)
How to Grow Butterfly Flower - Schizanthus
Growing Schizanthus - Caring for Poor Man's Orchid Plants
Wikipedia: Schizanthus
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 595, Schizanthus pinnatus