Little Friends Mix Painted Tongue is a compact cultivar of Salpiglossis sinuata that brings exotic, jewel-toned blooms to gardens in hardiness zones 3 through 11. Standing just 18 inches tall with delicate, intricately patterned flowers, this frost-tender annual produces continuous color from early summer through frost, typically reaching bloom in 98 to 112 days from seed. The 'Little Friends' designation speaks to its tidy, manageable size, making it a natural fit for containers, borders, and smaller garden spaces where impact matters more than sprawl.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
18in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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These compact plants reward gardeners with weeks of ornate, velvety flowers featuring the characteristic painted-tongue markings that give Salpiglossis its common name. The mix provides a rich palette of colors and patterns without the space demands of taller varieties. Blooming reliably from summer through fall, even in cooler zones, they perform best in full sun with moderate water and thrive in the slightly acidic to neutral soil they prefer.
Little Friends Mix Painted Tongue is grown as an ornamental flower for garden color and cut arrangements. The intricate, velvety blooms work well in small bouquets, border plantings, and container gardens where their compact stature and long blooming season keep the display fresh from midsummer through autumn.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds on the surface of moist seed-starting mix, press them in lightly, and sprinkle a thin layer of fine vermiculite over the top. Cover the container with black paper or place it in complete darkness, as Salpiglossis requires darkness to germinate. Keep temperatures steady at 70 to 75°F. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 21 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date, when soil has warmed and there is no risk of frost. Space plants 8 inches apart in their final location.
Direct sow seeds at your last frost date. Cover seeds completely to exclude light, as they require darkness for germination. Keep soil moist until seedlings emerge in 7 to 21 days.
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