Salpiglossis
Painted tongue, Velvet trumpet flower
- Height × spread
- 0.6m – 0.6m × 0.3m – 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are two species in this genus, plus a great many cultivars that have been developed that exploit the highly ornamental flowers. The plants originate in South America and may be annual or perennial in habit. They have sticky foliage and produce stunning tubular flowers with big flared mouths in a range of bright colours in shades of red and yellow, blue and purple as well as bronzed tints. The flowers may be noticeably striped and look a little like very high-budget Alstroemeria. They are sometimes planted out in gardens, or in containers where they may be grown in conservatories, and are sometimes planted for use as cut flowers.
- Flower colour
- Purple, Red, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.6m – 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bedding plant
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Give a general purpose feed two or three times during the growing season, preferably not within a month of its end so the plant isn't encouraged to make fresh young growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Winter
Winter · Outdoors
Water lightly during dormancy
The soil should be kept just moist during the plant's rest period.