Schizanthus

Family: Solanaceae
Common Name: Butterfly Flower, Poor Man's Orchid

Native to Chile, these tell species of spring- and summer-flowering annuals are valued for their rather exotic flowers and pale green, tern-like foliage. In cool climates, grow these frost-tender plants as pot plants in a cool greenhouse or conservatory, or treat them as tender, summer bedding plants.

Species

S. pinnatus has produced many of the hybrids that we grow today. Most popular are dwarf cultivars. A good seed catalogue should list several. Also worth growing is S. x wisetonensis which is similar to S. pinnatus.

Cultivation

For summer flowering sow seed in mid-spring, germinated at 16°C (61°F) or sow in late summer for winter-flowering pot plants. Under glass, grow in pots of soil-based potting compost and provide good light, but shade from sun. In the garden, plant out when frosts are over in a sunny and sheltered position with well-drained, yet moist soil.

Climate

Zone 10.