Salpiglossis: cultivation and care in open ground, photos and descriptions, types and varieties

Growing salpiglossis, a spectacular, lushly flowering herbaceous plant native to South America, is becoming increasingly popular in home gardens every year. This is not surprising: the large corollas of the trumpet tongue, which look like both a bell and a petunia, look bright and unusual thanks to the original color of the petals with a thin mesh pattern, creating the effect of pearlescent iridescence. Only one type of plant is used in ornamental culture, but a significant number of varieties and hybrids have been bred on its basis.They differ in the color and size of the flowers, the height of the plant bush, and the degree of branching of the shoots.

You can grow salpiglossis using seedlings or sow the seeds directly into open ground. This plant is not capricious; it does not require overly complex and troublesome care. But the bright, exotic beauty of the tubetongue will certainly make it a real pearl of any, even the richest and most sophisticated garden collection.

General description of salpiglossis

The genus Salpiglossis belongs to the Solanaceae family and includes about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants. Among them there are both perennials and those whose life cycle lasts only 1 or 2 seasons.

In gardening, the only type of salpiglossis used is the notched one.

In the wild, salpiglossis can be found in the mountains of Argentina, Chile and Peru. It was introduced into culture relatively recently - at the beginning of the twentieth century in the USA.

Comment! Other names for this plant: “tube tongue”, “marble flower”, “outlandish tubes”.

The root system of Salpiglossis is of mixed type. It has a well-defined main root and developed subordinate roots. The stems of the plant are thin, vertical, most often branched, although single straight ones are also found. Their height varies widely from 15 to 100 cm. The surface of the plant shoots is evenly covered with glandular fibers, which is why it may seem sticky to the touch.

The oblong-elongated leaves of salpiglossis, depending on the species, can have a solid, serrated or feathery edge. They are arranged in the following order. The leaf blades of the plant in the basal and central parts of the stem are equipped with petioles, while in the upper part they are sessile.

Salpiglossis flowers are solitary, located on the tips of the shoots.They appear in early summer and decorate the plant until the first October frosts. The flowers are very large (4-6 cm in diameter), bright, very decorative. The corolla of the plant is funnel-shaped and consists of 5 blades with a soft, velvety surface. The color of salpiglossis flowers is very diverse. It can be white, yellow, red of any shade, lilac, purple, dark blue. On the inner surface of the petals there is a subtle, clearly visible contrasting pattern of golden or dark veins, which makes the flowers of this plant especially attractive.

The color of salpiglossis flowers is a fascinating combination of shades, and the inner surface of the petals, thanks to a pattern of thin veins, shimmers in the light like mother-of-pearl

The fruit of salpiglossis is a small oval capsule with two compartments. Inside it, at the end of flowering, small seeds ripen.

Important! Salpiglossis seed material does not require stratification or any preparation. It has high germination rate and retains it for 4-5 years.

Types and varieties of salpiglossis with names and photos

In ornamental gardening, the only species of this plant grown is the annual salpiglossis notched (in Latin, Salpiglossis sinuata). Within its framework, three varieties are distinguished: large-flowered, superbyssima and low. Currently, all kinds of hybrid plant varieties are also very popular.

Salpiglossis grandiflora (var. grandiflora)

This variety of salpiglossis notched is characterized by tall (90-100 cm) bushes. The stems of the plant are highly branched and abound in large flowers.

The large-flowered variety of salpiglossis has tall bushes and highly branched shoots

Warning! Tall varieties of salpiglossis growing in an open area necessarily need support. It will be enough to stick an ordinary peg into the ground and tie the shoots of the plant to it with twine.

Salpiglossis notched Superbissima (var. superbissima)

The stems of Salpiglossis Superbissima have an average height (no more than 60 cm). The flowering shoots of this plant are solitary, there is no branching. The inflorescences are large, and the petals have characteristic corrugated edges. Salpiglossis Superbissima seeds are usually sold as a mixture. From one bag you can grow flowers of various colors.

The shoots of Salpiglossis Superbissima do not branch, and the petals of the plant have a slightly corrugated edge

Salpiglossis notched low (var. nanus)

The smallest variety of Salpiglossis notched (from 15 to 40 cm). Numerous thin stems of the plant are densely branched. The flowers are smaller in size than the other two varieties, but a large number of them are produced. Lush and bright, but at the same time compact bushes of low salpiglossis are ideal for decorating a limited space - a balcony, loggia, terrace - when growing plants in flowerpots or containers.

Salpiglossis low is great for growing in containers and pots

Royale F1

A hybrid plant variety series, noted and recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. Combines compact salpiglossis bushes (40-60 cm in height) with abundantly branching shoots and large flowers.

The Royale Yellow plant is distinguished by sunny yellow inflorescences

The velvety petals of Royale Chocolate (Royal Chocolate) are unique in their wine-burgundy color

Royale Purple Bicolor flowers shimmer in purple and gold

The color of the corollas Royale Red Bicolor (Royal Red Bicolor) is distinguished by a harmonious combination of red and gold

Kew Blue F1

Hybrid of low salpiglossis, 30 to 45 cm tall. The corollas of the plant are colored a rich indigo, and their central region is a darker, blue-violet color. The thin network of golden veins on the petals is almost invisible, but in the light it contributes to the appearance of “mother-of-pearl” tints. This hybrid is often grown in winter gardens and greenhouses.

Q Blue pleases the eye with pearlescent blue-violet tints

Casino Mix F1

This salpiglossis reaches 45-60 cm in height. The flowers of the plant are painted in all possible combinations of tones and shades: purple with gold, orange-ocher, dark red with pink, soft lilac with burgundy. Hybrid Casino Mix is often used for borders or growing in pots and containers. For adult plants, it is recommended to provide additional support.

From a bag of Casino Mix seeds you can get a whole palette of colors

Bolero

The height of the bushes of this hybrid variety reaches 40-60 cm. The stems of the plant are highly branched. The flowers are relatively small (6-7 cm). The colors of its corollas combine a variety of shades of red, yellow, and purple. Salpiglossis Bolero grows well in sun and light shade.

A medium-sized bright Bolero will be an excellent decoration for borders and paths

Ali Baba

Hybrid of Russian selection.Tall (70-80 cm), well-branched salpiglossis with large flowers of bright, rich colors and contrasting, clearly visible veins. The plant looks great cut. It is recommended to always pinch the tops of the flowering shoots of the Ali Baba variety for better branching.

The Russian large-flowered hybrid salpiglossis Ali Baba looks great in bouquets

Application in landscape design

The possibilities for using salpiglossis in landscape design are truly inexhaustible. The examples below are just some of the options for how you can use this spectacular, brightly flowering plant to decorate your garden plot:

group monoplantings that combine salpiglossis of various varieties;
color accent in multi-level compositions with a delicate background of silvery cinneraria, Schmidt's wormwood, cypress santolina;
design of borders and paths;
bright, variegated flower beds in combination with annual plants: petunias, salvia, nasturtium, marigolds;
planting next to coniferous shrubs and trees that can emphasize the brightness and exotic beauty of salpiglossis;
various compositions with other beautiful flowering plants: chrysanthemums, daylilies.

Low-growing varieties of salpiglossis perform excellently as a potted crop, decorating balconies, terraces, and winter gardens.

When cut, these plants look wonderful as part of bouquets and remain fresh for a long time.

Features of reproduction

Salpiglossis reproduces by seeds. In southern regions with a warm and mild climate, winter or spring sowing of this plant directly into the ground is usually practiced.In areas with more severe weather conditions, salpiglossis seedlings are pre-grown. Strong seedlings of the plant are planted in an open area with the onset of stable heat.

Growing salpiglossis flower from seeds

The optimal time for sowing salpiglossis seeds for seedlings is the end of March or mid-April.

To do this, it is best to prepare wide, shallow containers (containers or plastic trays) with a sufficient number of drainage holes at the bottom. You can use individual cups or small pots, in which case later the salpiglossis seedlings will not require diving. Peat tablets are also a good solution for the seeds of this plant.

It is convenient to immediately sow salpiglossis seeds for seedlings in individual containers to avoid diving later

The soil for growing salpiglossis seedlings must meet the following requirements:

loose, light;
nutritious;
neutral or slightly acidic.

You can buy a soil mixture suitable for this plant, but it is not at all difficult to prepare it yourself. You will need to mix:

2 parts of turf land;
1 part river sand;
0.5 parts wood ash.

Advice! It is advisable to disinfect the prepared soil by calcining it in the oven or steaming it in a water bath for 40-60 minutes.

Sowing salpiglossis seeds is done as follows:

A small layer of drainage (expanded clay, small pebbles, foam chips) is poured onto the bottom of the containers.
The containers are filled with soil from above.
Moderately moisturize it by spraying it with warm water from a spray bottle.
The seeds of the plant are spread evenly over the surface of the soil.If individual containers are selected for sowing salpiglossis, then 2-3 pieces should be placed in each of them.
Burying seeds is not allowed. They are only slightly pressed to the surface of the soil.
Spray the crops with a spray bottle.
Cover the containers with transparent film or glass and place in a warm, moderately lit place.

Immediately after sowing, the container with the seeds will need to be covered with film, placed on a window in a warm room and shaded by placing a sheet of white paper on top of the “greenhouse”.

Seedling care

The basic rules for caring for salpiglossis seedlings from the moment of sowing the seeds to planting the young plants in the ground are as follows:

Provide a moderate amount of diffuse light. When placing a “greenhouse” with salpiglossis seedlings on a sunny windowsill, at first you will need to cover it on top with a sheet of white paper. 15-20 days after the emergence of seedlings, the plants begin to illuminate them with a phytolamp, bringing the daylight hours to 12-14 hours.
Maintaining a consistently warm temperature. The optimal mode is about + 20 °C.
Regular moistening of the soil with settled water at room temperature. It is produced as needed, making sure that the substrate at the roots of the plants does not dry out. In order to avoid the accumulation of excess moisture, salpiglossis seedlings should be watered with caution, ideally by spraying the soil with a spray bottle.
Daily ventilation of crops. The film cover should be removed for 10-15 minutes from the first days of plant life, at the same time removing droplets of condensation that have accumulated on its inside. A couple of weeks after the salpiglossis seeds germinate, the time they spend in the fresh air outside the “greenhouse” is gradually increased.Subsequently, the shelter is removed completely.
Plant seedlings are picked after the appearance of their first pair of true leaves. Salpiglossis bushes are carefully transferred one at a time into individual containers along with a lump of earth on the roots. If cups or pots were used when sowing the seeds, then there is no need to pick the seedlings. It will be enough to carefully remove weak plants, leaving one of the most developed and strong ones in each container.
Gently pinching the tops will help the salpiglossis bushes branch better. After picking the seedlings and before transferring them to a permanent place in open ground, this procedure is performed 2-3 times.
It is highly advisable to install a support for each plant after picking. This will help the thin stems not to break under the weight of developing leaves.

Transplantation into the ground

Salpiglossis seedlings are planted in open ground from mid-May. A prerequisite is the absence of return frosts and a consistently warm air temperature of about + 10 °C.

In the middle or end of May, the seedlings can be transplanted into open ground

A couple of weeks before the planned transplant, the site should be prepared. This is done according to the same rules that apply before sowing plant seeds directly into open ground. On the eve of planting the seedlings, the soil needs to be dug up again.

Salpiglossis seedlings are moved into holes prepared in the ground by transferring the plants along with a lump of earth on the roots, keeping a step of 25-30 cm. They are watered with a small amount of water, supports for the stems are provided and the soil at the roots is mulched with herbal compost.

Important! Salpiglossis planted in this way will bloom approximately at the end of June.

Planting salpiglossis seeds in the ground

If the climate allows, you don’t have to bother with growing seedlings, but sow the seeds of the Tubetongue directly into the soil in the garden bed. This method is undoubtedly simpler, but it is worth remembering that the flowering of salpiglossis in this case will occur later - in the second half of summer.

Deadlines

The seeds of this plant are usually planted in open ground in late April or early May. Sometimes winter sowing is practiced, in October, but it is not very common. It often happens that the seeds of the tropical beauty do not germinate after the winter cold.

Site selection and soil preparation

The area where salpiglossis is to grow should be selected according to the following criteria:

well lit by the sun;
protected from drafts and strong gusts of wind;
with light, fertile, well-drained soil.

It is advisable that the bed is located on a small hill.

Warning! Wetlands or places in the shade of bushes or trees are absolutely not suitable for growing this plant.

10-15 days before sowing salpiglossis seeds, the soil in the garden bed is carefully dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet with the addition of complex mineral fertilizer. If the soil is too acidic, add additional dolomite flour or ash. Heavy, clayey, poor soils are diluted with sand, peat, and humus.

Landing algorithm

It is advisable to sow salpiglossis seeds in open ground on a sunny day, when neither fog nor rain is expected.

The process goes like this:

In the prepared area, grooves are laid approximately 2-2.5 cm deep, or holes for individual planting, maintaining a distance between them of 25-30 cm.
Spread the plant seeds evenly in them without deepening them.
Sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top.
Water generously.

In warm, mild climates, you can sow seeds without seedlings - directly into open ground

If all conditions are met, sprouts will appear in 14-20 days. If they grow too densely, they will need to be thinned out, leaving the strongest and most robust specimens in the ground. It is necessary that the distance between plants be 25-30 cm.

Rules for growing in open ground

Caring for salpiglossis growing in open ground is simple. The set of measures described below will help maintain the health and beautiful flowering of the plant.

Watering and fertilizing schedule

Watering salpiglossis in open ground should be regular. It is advisable to use settled water at room temperature for the procedure. It is necessary to ensure that the soil under the salpiglossis bushes does not dry out, as it does not tolerate a lack of moisture well. At the same time, excessive moisture and stagnation of water in the soil are also dangerous: they can cause the plant to develop root rot.

In spring and autumn, it is enough to water salpiglossis a couple of times a week. In hot summers, the frequency of procedures should be increased to 1 time per day, and in the evenings the plants should be additionally sprayed.

Salpiglossis responds well to feeding. The recommended frequency of fertilizing the soil is twice a month. It is advisable to alternate organic compositions with mineral ones. The introduction of the latter is especially important at the stage of active flowering of the plant, in June-July, as it has a positive effect on its duration and beauty.

Loosening and mulching

Loosening the soil under salpiglossis is done every time after watering or heavy rain.It is necessary to perform the procedure very carefully so as not to damage the roots of the plant. The depth of loosening should not exceed a few centimeters.

After the soil dries slightly, it is recommended to mulch it. This will help better retain moisture at the roots of the plant and will also prevent the growth of weeds. Natural materials are best suited as mulch for salpiglossis: sawdust, peat, chopped straw. Its layer should not be thick - 1 cm is enough.

Formation of bushes

Pinching the central shoots of the plant will help maintain the beautiful shape of the salpiglossis bush. This procedure contributes to their better branching and the appearance of a large number of flower buds. For the first time, pinching of salpiglossis is performed at the seedling stage, and when sowing in open ground, when the height of young plants reaches 10 cm. Then the procedure is repeated several times during the season.

Pinching the central shoots will help to form a beautifully branching and profusely flowering bush.

Rules of care during the flowering period

During the flowering period, which lasts 3-4 months, caring for salpiglossis in open ground is supplemented by regular removal of faded buds. This will help the plant not waste nutrients by directing them to drying inflorescences. It is also necessary to promptly remove diseased and rotten branches and leaves, which will help preserve the beautiful decorative appearance of the bush.

In addition, during this period it is important to adhere to the regime of watering and fertilizing the plant with special care, regularly weed out weeds near the salpiglossis plantings and, if necessary, provide support for its shoots.

Wintering

In areas with cold climates, salpiglossis is grown as an annual plant.

In regions with milder and warmer weather conditions, you can try letting it overwinter indoors. To do this, with the onset of autumn, the salpiglossis bush is transplanted into a deep pot with a layer of drainage at the bottom, filled with light, loose soil. The wintering plant is placed on the western or southwestern window of the apartment, providing it with a moderate amount of diffused light. The temperature in the room should be maintained at + 18-20 °C. If the room is warmer, it is necessary to regularly ventilate it, while making sure that there are no drafts.

Diseases and pests

Salpiglossis is a plant that is resistant to most diseases and pests. Among the problems that can harm his health are the following:

Fungal diseases. First of all, this is root rot of the plant, less often - late blight, powdery mildew, fusarium. Most often they appear on salpiglossis during the hot but rainy season, or when the irrigation regime is violated, when the soil becomes swampy and water stagnates at the roots. Rotting of the underground part of the plant is accompanied by growth cessation, rapid yellowing and wilting of the foliage, and blackening of the stems. To cope with fungi, pruning and destruction of diseased plant organs will help (in case of severe damage to the roots, disposal of the entire bush), the use of chemical fungicides containing copper, such as Ridomil, Skor, Topaz, Bordeaux mixture. It is necessary to correct mistakes made when watering salpiglossis.
Fungal diseases, in particular root rot, can occur on the plant due to excess moisture in the soil
Aphid. Colonies of these rapidly multiplying parasites settle in the axils of salpiglossis leaves, then move to the buds, actively feeding on the plant juices. The bushes weaken, the foliage turns yellow and curls, causing the decorative effect of the flower garden to suffer significantly. To combat aphids on salpiglossis, traditional methods are used (spraying plants with a soap solution, decoctions of citrus peels, garlic, tobacco leaves, onion peels) and chemicals (Decis, Fitoverm).
Aphids feed on plant juices, which can significantly slow down their growth and development.

Conclusion

Growing salpiglossis in a garden plot is not very difficult. If the choice was made in favor of the seedling method, you will have to work a little, caring for the seedlings growing in the mini-greenhouse on the window. But with the onset of warm spring, it will be possible to plant grown-up salpiglossis bushes in the garden bed without fear that they will not sprout or will freeze. It is even easier to sow seeds directly into open ground. However, this option is only suitable for regions with a mild, warm climate. In any case, it is worth growing salpiglossis in your own garden, because having appeared in cultivation relatively recently, it has already rightfully won love and recognition among those who prefer plants that bloom for a long time, lushly and brightly. A wide selection of salpiglossis varieties and hybrids makes it possible to show your imagination without limits, creating colorful flower beds and compositions on your site.