| Florists sell pots of these lovely living bouquets, and most are discarded after blooming. But you can grow them yourself from seed and have a profusion of flowers in as little as 6 months. Choose from cultivars such as low-growing Grandifloras and Multifloras or tall-branching Stellatas. Their cool blues, magentas, and violets are well known; look too for whites, reds, variegated petals and contrasting centers. Can grow outdoors in mild frost-free climates with warm dry springs. They need a shady, humid spot with bright filtered light, and temperatures below 60º F. Ensure good drainage with organic matter or perlite. If soil becomes waterlogged, they will quickly droop. The down side to this lavish floral display is vulnerability to a host of pests, including chrysanthemum leaf miner, thrips, whitefly, red spider mites and aphids. They are also subject to root rot, rust, powdery mildew, and various leafspot viruses. |
Flowers may produce rayed petals in two colors. Seed strains are available from dwarf sizes to taller, more open forms. Often grown as an annual, it will naturalize in mild coastal areas of California.
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Attributes - Pericallis x hybrida
Plant Type: Perennial
Bloom Season: Early Spring through Early Summer
Flower Color: Blue, Lavender, Magenta, Pink, Purple, Red, White
Foliage: Deciduous
Height: 1 ft. to 3 ft.
Width: 3 ft.
Sunlight: Partial Sun, Shade
Climate: Zones 9, 10, 11
Notes: Thrives in Wet Soil. Container Plants, Cut Flowers, Long Blooming, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers.
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