GILIA, Annual Flower Information

GILIA (Named for Philipp Salvador Gil, Spanish botanist) The Gilias are related to Phlox and, like them, have funnel or salver form flowers. Gilia capitata, Globe Gilia, is a blue sort with flowers in dense heads a half-inch across. The plants grow 18 inches tall and have finely cut foliage. Gilia coronopifolia (rubra), the Texasplume, grows 4 feet tall, has […]

TORENIA (Wishbone flower), Annual Flower Information

The Wishbone flower is a gem. Those who have not tried this annual, nor seen it growing, have a pleasant surprise in store for them if they will raise a few plants. The flowers of Torenia fournieri are violet and lavender with a prominent yellow blotch on the lip. There is a less attractive white variety. In the center, the […]

TRACHYMENE (Daucus) – Lace flower, Annual Flower Information

TRACHYMENE (Daucus) Lace flower (Name from trachus-rough hymen-a membrane;channels of the fruit) Some few years ago an old favorite annual given the pleasing name of Lace flower was introduced. It is Trachymene caerulea. It is beautiful but does not always succeed as well as the old standbys. The flower heads are made up of small azure flowers produced in umbels […]

LYCHNIS Campion (Rose-of-heaven), Annual Flower Information

LYCHNIS Campion (Rose-of-heaven) (Greek for lamp, referring to the flame-colored flowers of some species) The various sorts of Lychnis are generally considered to be perennial but several are annual. The Rose-of-heaven, Lychnis coelirosea, often cataloged as Viscaria oculala, is a lovely little annual with crimson, blue, purple, lavender, pink or white flowers. The five petals are slightly notched and the […]

AMARANTHUS Amaranth, Annual Flower

AMARANTHUS – Amaranth (Name derived from a-not, mairaino-to whither, refers to the everlasting character of the flowers) Coarse plants, but very showy, the various sorts of Amaranthus may be successfully cultivated in poor soils where they thrive excellently. Some have bright red foliage, whereas others have long spikes of blood-red flowers. SPECIES. Love-lies-bleeding. Amaranthus caudatus (A. abyssinica). Grows 3 to […]

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM . Iceplant or Figmarigold, Annual Flower Information

Let’s read about this Annual Flower Press the Flower Child and see all the photos for this plant. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM Iceplant or Figmarigold (Name derived from mesembria, mid-day; anthemon, a flower,refers to fact that flowers open in full sunlight) The Replant (M. cryslallinum) is the most commonly grown representative of this genus. It is a curious plant with thick leaves covered […]

COSMOS (Cosmea) (Mexican-aster), Annual Flower Information

COSMOS (Cosmea) (Mexican-aster) (The name comes from the Greek for orderliness, hence an ornament or a beautiful plant) The Cosmos is not as impatient about coming into bloom as most annuals but waits until it has made its growth before expending its energy in flower production. There is no other tall annual so graceful or so useful as the Cosmos. […]

MIMULUS Monkey flower, Annual Flower Information

MIMULUS (Monkey flower) (Name from Mimo, an ape, refers to gaping mouth of flower) The flowers of this interesting genus are curiously shaped and spotted with contrasting colors. Those generally seen are bright yellow, spotted with maroon, red or orange. a: Mimulus moschalus is the Musk plant, so-called because of its musk-scented leaves. It is really a trailing perennial with […]

DATURA Floripondio (Trumpet flower), Annual Flower Information

DATURA Floripondio (Trumpet flower) These large-flowered annuals are related to the common Jimson weed. Their flowers are trumpet-shaped, white, purple, or yellow in color, and sometimes 6 inches long. Datura fastuosa (cornucopia) is the common white species. The flowers are often much doubled, in which case they are mere monstrosities. The outside of the petals is frequently washed with an […]