Cupflower
Nierembergia caerulea (Nierembergia hippomanica). SOLANACEAE.
Planting and Growing Cupflower
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow cupflower in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of cupflower
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for cupflower
- Season of bloom and planting time for cupflower
- When, how deep, and where to plant cupflower
- How to plant cupflower
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of cupflower
- Landscape and container uses of cupflower
- Comments about cupflower and its features
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Growing Cupflower
Several cultivars of mounding, spreading perennial herbs, to 1 ft. (30 cm) tall and wide. Alternate, green, spoon-shaped or fernlike leaves, to 3/4-in. (19-mm) long.
Common cultivars include Nierembergia caerulea ‘Mont Blanc’, ‘Purple Robe’, and ‘Violacea’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many purple, violet, white, cup-shaped, 5-petaled flowers, 1–2 in. (25–50 mm) wide, with yellow throats, in summer–early autumn.
Best Climates
Plant as tender annual, zones 2–6; ground hardy, zones 7–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Late winter to early spring in filtered sun to partial shade, 6 in. (15 cm) apart, when soil is workable. Start seed indoors 10–12 weeks before final frost for early blooms; transplant when frost hazard has passed.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize monthly. Prune or shear after blooms fade to renew, promote repeat bloom. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for hanging baskets, borders, containers, ground covers in natural, rock gardens. Pest and disease resistant.