Painted tongue

Painted tongue: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Slender, branching annual 45–75 cm high and about 30 cm wide; the thin stems are brittle.

Leaves

Narrow lance-shaped to lobed with a wavy or toothed edge; larger below, narrower above, slightly glandular-hairy and so a little sticky.

Flowers

Funnel-shaped, 5–6 cm, velvety and marked with fine, dark veins, from July to September.

Colour

Red, orange, yellow, purple, blue-violet and cream, often with contrasting veining.

Relations

Belongs to the nightshade family, with petunia, tomato and tobacco.

Flowering: July–September · Sowing: March–April · Plants: May–June

Why grow it?

• Unusual velvety, veined trumpet flowers in rich, warm colours that stand out in any border.
• Flowers from July to September, when many other annuals are starting to tire.
• An excellent cut flower: the stems with buds look lovely in a vase.
• Compact (about 60 cm) and slender: suitable for the middle of the border and for large pots.
• Easy to grow from seed that you sow yourself indoors in March–April.

Painted tongue: where does it grow best?

• Full sun for rich flowering; in shade it stays sparse.
• Humus-rich, free-draining soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to neutral. Avoid cold, wet soil.
• Evenly moist but never wet; it does not tolerate wet feet.
• Warm and sheltered: it is sensitive to strong wind and to cold, wet summers.
• Plant 25–30 cm apart; in a 30 cm pot, three plants.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Frost tender: plant out after the last frost (mid-May)

Goes well with

• Cosmos: Airy flowers on tall stems, in the same sunny border.
• Snapdragon: Upright spikes with flowers in warm colours that complement the velvety trumpets.
• Zinnia: The same sun and warmth, with bold colours.
• Ornamental grasses: Fine stems and plumes that calm the rich colours.

Painted tongue: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May–June.

1. Sow indoors in March–April and plant out after mid-May, when night frost is no longer expected.
2. First let the young plants get used to the outdoors by day for a week and bring them in at night.
3. Loosen the soil and mix in a few spadefuls of compost; in a pot use light potting compost.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in the nursery pot, 25–30 cm apart, and firm the soil.
5. Water straight away, but after that only when the soil feels dry.
6. Put support in at once: thin twigs, a frame or a support ring, because the stems are brittle.

Care

Water

Regular and even, at the base and preferably in the morning, so the foliage stays dry.

Feeding

Every two weeks give a low-nitrogen flowering-plant feed during flowering.

Support

Provide support in time with twigs or a frame; the thin stems snap in wind or rain.

Pinching

Pinch out young plants at 10–15 cm for a bushy shape with more flowers.

Faded flowers

Cut off faded flowers to prolong flowering.

Tip: Sow indoors in March–April, plant out after mid-May in a sheltered, sunny spot and put support in at once next to the brittle stems. Water at the base and pinch out young plants for more flowers.

Painted tongue: when to prune it?

When: It is not really pruned; pinch out young plants and, during flowering, cut off faded flowers and limp stems.

How:

• Pinch out the tip of the main stem when the plant is 10–15 cm high.
• Cut off faded flowers or finished stems back to a side shoot.
• Remove the dead plants in October.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Sowing

In March–April indoors at 18–20 °C: sow the fine seed thinly and cover it lightly. It germinates in about 10–20 days. Prick the seedlings out into small pots and harden them off in May.

Painted tongue: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to 0 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Not hardy: it tolerates at most a light night frost around 0 °C and dies off in autumn.
• Clear the plants in October and put them on the compost heap.
• Sow again next spring in March–April; you can collect the seed yourself from the dried seed capsules.

Diseases and pests

• Aphids: Small insects on young shoots and buds. Rinse off with water or a mild soap solution; ladybirds help.
• Grey mould and stem rot: Grey mould and rotting stems in wet, cold weather. Allow space and airflow, water at the base and remove affected parts.
• Damping-off: Seedlings fall over at the base. Use clean seed compost, do not sow too thickly and do not overwater.
• Whitefly and spider mite: Sticky leaves or fine webs and yellowish speckles. Rinse off with water and remove affected parts.
• Slugs: Young plants are eaten. Collect slugs in the evening or set slug traps.

Through the year

• March: Sow indoors at 18–20 °C.
• April: Sow and prick out. Harden off by day.
• May: Plant out after mid-May. Put supports in. Pinch out tips.
• June: First buds. Feed every two weeks.
• July: Flowering begins. Cut flowers for the vase.
• August: Full flower. Water and cut off faded flowers.
• September: Last flowers. Collect seed.
• October: Clear the plants.

Did you know?

• The name Salpiglossis comes from the Greek: salpinx (trumpet, tube) and glossa (tongue).
• It is related to petunia, tomato and tobacco, which also belong to the nightshade family.
• The English name ‘painted tongue’ refers to the patterned, finely veined flowers.