Growing Royale Series Salpiglossis Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Salpiglossis sinuata
- Other Names: Painted Tongue, Scalloped Tube Tongue, Velvet Trumpet Flower
- Seed Type: Annual
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Start indoors 6 – 8 weeks before final frost date. Royale Series salpiglossis seeds may be slow to germinate and require 14 – 28 days. Once germinated, move to fluorescent grow light for 16 hours of light per day until two sets of true leaves have developed. Transplant seedlings to indoor container or pot and harden off when transplanting outside. If sowing directly or transplanting outside, choose a cool, well-shaded spot.
- Days to Maturity: 91 – 98 days
- Hardiness Zone: 2 – 10
- Planting Depth: Plant 3 - 4 seeds ¼” deep
- Plant Spacing: 10 – 12"
- Growth Habit: 10 – 12” tall dwarf shrub with 10 – 12” spread filled with 2 – 3” blooms
- Soil Preference: Moist, organic, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun – partial shade
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Royale Series salpiglossis thrives in cool summer gardens and will show signs of wilting if not shaded in long summer heat. Cool and well-shaded gardens will promote continued salpiglossis blooming well into summer. No serious pests or diseases, but monitor regularly for aphids.
- Color: Signature choice of Chocolate,
Start Royale Series salpiglossis seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before final frost date. Salpiglossis seeds may be slow to germinate and require 14 – 28 days. Once germinated, move to fluorescent grow light for 16 hours of light per day until two sets of true leaves have developed. Transplant Royale Series seedlings to indoor container or pot and harden off if transplanting outside. For direct sowing, plant 3 – 4 salpiglossis Royale Series seeds ¼” deep and 12” apart in moist, organic, and well-drained soil in a cool spot with full sun to partial shade. Royale Series salpiglossis thrives in cool summer gardens and will show signs of wilting if not shaded in long summer heat. Cool and well-shaded gardens promote continued blooming well into summer. Salpiglossis have no serious pests or diseases, but monitor regularly for aphids. Royale Series salpiglossis seeds mature in 91 – 98 days as 12 – 16” tall dwarfed uprights with 12” spreads stemming with 3” blooms in a signature choice of Chocolate, Purple, Purple Bicolor, Red Bicolor, and Mix.
Salpiglossis sinuata is native to southern Chile and was only introduced to the northern hemisphere in the 1820's. It thrives in cool gardens because, although native to South America, it grew much closer to the Antarctic than to the equator. Salpiglossis is also commonly known as Painted Tongue, Scalloped Tube Tongue, or Velvet Trumpet Flower.