Select Superbissima Mix Painted Tongue brings exotic elegance to summer and fall gardens with its striking, trumpet-shaped flowers in jewel tones and intricate vein patterns. This frost-tender annual from the Solanaceae family reaches 24 to 30 inches tall and blooms reliably from June through November in zones 9 to 11, or as a summer annual in cooler climates. From seed to first flowers takes 98 to 112 days, rewarding patient gardeners with flowers that seem almost hand-painted with contrasting colors and delicate venation. The Superbissima series is known for its large, ruffled blooms that tower above fine, feathery foliage, creating an airy, sophisticated presence in the garden.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
30in H x 12in W
—
High
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The flowers of Select Superbissima Mix stop you in your tracks: large, velvety petals adorned with intricate veining and color gradations that look like watercolor brushstrokes. Each plant grows to a commanding 24 to 30 inches, producing blooms consistently from early summer straight through fall frost. Unlike many ornamental annuals, this variety demands specific germination conditions (darkness and cool temperatures), making successful seed starting a rewarding skill to master.
Select Superbissima Mix Painted Tongue is grown primarily for its ornamental flowers. The tall, elegant stems and striking blooms work beautifully in fresh cut flower arrangements, where the intricate petal patterns and rich colors become focal points. Gardeners also grow it as a dramatic backdrop in mixed borders and as a container specimen where its upright growth and consistent flowering through summer and fall provide months of visual interest.
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Start seeds indoors in pots 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain temperatures between 70 and 75°F for reliable germination. Keep seedlings in these warm conditions until transplanting time.
Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 8 inches apart in a location receiving full sun. Harden off seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods over 7 to 10 days before final planting.
Direct sow at the last frost date for your area. Sow seeds on the soil surface and press them lightly into place. Cover immediately with a light layer of fine vermiculite and black paper to exclude light, as Salpiglossis requires darkness to germinate. Keep the area moist and expect sprouting in 7 to 21 days.
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