Black Trumpets Painted Tongue is a frost-tender annual flower that brings theatrical elegance to summer and fall gardens with its distinctive dark, trumpet-shaped blooms. Reaching just 18 inches tall with a 12-inch spread, this heirloom cultivar of Salpiglossis sinuata thrives in full sun across zones 9-11, flowering reliably from June through November. From seed to bloom takes 98-112 days, rewarding patient gardeners with flowers that attract pollinators throughout the growing season.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
18in H x 12in W
—
High
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These flowers deserve a front-row seat in any garden. The deep, almost black trumpet blooms are instantly recognizable and far more dramatic than standard painted tongue varieties, creating bold visual impact against the delicate, winged foliage. Blooming prolifically from early summer straight through the first frost, they provide continuous color when many other annuals are fading. The fact that they're frost-tender means you get a defined season of intense performance rather than a plant that lingers indefinitely.
Black Trumpets Painted Tongue is grown as an ornamental flowering plant, valued for its dramatic blooms in garden beds, borders, and containers. The flowers add striking color and architectural form to cut flower arrangements, where their trumpet shape and deep coloring make a memorable statement.
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Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date. Black Trumpets require darkness to germinate, so surface sow and press seeds in lightly, then cover with fine vermiculite and black paper to exclude light. Keep soil at 70-75°F. Expect germination in 7-21 days.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Transplant after the last frost date when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures remain above 50°F. Space plants 8 inches apart.
Direct sow at the last frost date. Cover seeds with fine vermiculite and black paper to exclude light, as darkness is essential for germination.
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