Salpiglossis

( sal - pig - LOSS - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Painted Tongue, this annual flowering plant needs full sun and regular water The stems and leaves are sticky on this South American petunia-relative. These plants grow to 2-3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Blooms can be mahogany, red, reddish-orange, yellow, purple, deep blue, or pink. These plants flower heavily in late spring and early summer, but will continue their bloom longer in cooler climates. They are great when used as cut flowers. A choice selection is 'Kew Blue' with a deep purple throat, and commonly grown strains include Bolero (to 2 feet tall), Royale (to 12-16 inches tall) and Stained Glass (to 18 inches tall). The genus Salpiglossis includes three species and is a member of the plant family Solanaceae. Painted Tongue grows well in zones 1-24 (To find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Caring for Salpiglossis

Begin sowing seeds indoors in trays in late winter or early springtime. Place several seeds in a pot, and store it in a warm, sunny place, and once seedlings sprout, thin to one per pot. Once the last frost of your area has passed, you can plant the seedlings outdoors. Painted Tongue performs best in rich, well-draining soil and may need to be staked in order to stay upright. Pinch the tips of young plants to encourage a more branching habit.

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Salpiglossis
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 583, Salpigloss sinuata
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