Incarvillea delavayi
Chinese trumpet flower, Pride of China, Hardy gloxinia
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is an attractive early flowering plant. The flower arises from a basal nest of pinnate, somewhat fern like leaves. Out of this appear large and very beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers, coloured a rich rosy red. The flowers are a feature in May and June. There are seed pods afterwards which are also an object of interest. This plant is much loved by slugs. It appreciates shade from the sun at the height of day. It doesn't like to be disturbed once it gets settled so try to avoid the temptation to move it around the garden. It is totally dormant in winter, leaving nothing above ground until it emerges, rather late, sometimes not till May. It may be a good idea to mark the spot where it is planted!
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Beige, Brown
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
AutumnNow
Autumn - late · Outdoors
Apply mulch
Spread organic material around the plant being careful not to bury its crown, or to put the mulch above the point at which the plant has been grafted in the case of trees.
A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.