Schizanthus pinnatus![RHS AGM](/assets/styles/images/icons/RHS-AGM--Small-Vert__web.svg)
Upright annual to 50cm tall, with fern-like light-green leaves to 12cm long and tubular flowers of white, yelllow, pink, purple or red to 8cm across with violet markings, streaked and spotted in contrasting colours, and produced from spring to autumn
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | White Yellow Pink Purple | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | White Yellow Pink Purple | Green | ||
Autumn | White Yellow Pink Purple | Green | ||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Schizanthus are showly annuals with pinnately dissected leaves and terminal clusters of orchid-like, 2-lipped flowers in a wide range of colours and often with a contrasting eye, from spring to autumn
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based potting compost (John Innes No.2) in full light with shade from hot sun, water moderately and apply a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks. Outdoors during summer, grow in fertile moist but well-drained soil in full sun
Propagation
Propagate from seed in mid-spring for summer to autumn flowering plants or propagate in late summer for winter-flowering container plants under glass
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Bedding
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
Pinch out young tips to promote bushy growth and cut back after flowering; flowering stems may need supporting
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids under glass
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.