Cerise Pearls Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is a frost-tender annual flower that transforms gardens with deep cerise blooms from summer through fall. This cultivar of Polygonum orientale grows 4 to 5 feet tall and reaches maturity in 112 to 126 days from seed, rewarding patient gardeners with continuous color from June through November. Hardy in zones 2 through 11, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and neutral soil, attracting pollinators throughout its generous bloom window.
2
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
60in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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The long common name tells you everything: this flower was bred to be memorable and gorgeous enough to inspire people to lean over garden gates and admire it. Deep cerise pendant blooms dangle from tall, elegant stems that reach 48 to 60 inches, creating an almost whimsical vertical accent that looks equally at home in cottage gardens or cutting gardens. The extended bloom window from June into November means you'll have color when many other annuals have faded, and the pollinator activity it generates turns your garden into a hub of summer and fall insect life.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors with stratification: mix seed with damp clean sand or vermiculite, place in a bag, and refrigerate at 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 days. Check frequently for germination and keep the medium lightly moist. Transplant seedlings as they emerge. After the stratification period, you can also sow into a container, cover with plastic, and refrigerate. Sprout time typically runs 22 to 60 days depending on conditions.
Transplant outdoors after your last spring frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed. Space plants 2 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation and room for mature width of 24 inches.
Direct sow in fall or earliest spring outdoors, or winter sow into pots in shade with a thin soil cover.
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