Poor-Man’s Orchid
(Butterfly Flower)
Schizanthus pinnatus. SOLANACEAE.
Planting and Growing Poor-Man’s Orchid
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow poor-man’s orchid in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of poor-man’s orchid
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for poor-man’s orchid
- Season of bloom and planting time for poor-man’s orchid
- When, how deep, and where to plant poor-man’s orchid
- How to plant poor-man’s orchid
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of poor-man’s orchid
- Landscape and container uses of poor-man’s orchid
- Comments about poor-man’s orchid and its features
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Growing Poor-Man’s Orchid
A few cultivars of upright, branching herbs, to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall. Alternate, green, feathery, finely cut leaves, to 5 in. (13 cm) long.
Common cultivars include Schizanthus pinnatus ‘Angel Wings’, ‘Excelsior’, ‘Grandifloris’, ‘Roseus’, and ‘Star Parade’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, pink, purple, white, yellow, orchidlike flowers, 1–1-1/2-in. (25–38-mm) wide, with upper, extended petals marked in intricate, contrasting patterns of bright yellow, in profuse branching clusters, in summer–early autumn.
Best Climates
Self-seeding, zones 3–10. Best in cool-summer climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Start indoors in spring, zones 3–8, transplanting after frost hazard has passed, in full sun to partial shade; sow outdoors when soil warms, zones 9–10, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart. Plant successions every 2 weeks to prolong bloom.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist. Fertilize monthly. Protect from frost, heat, wind. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, borders, containers in cottage, small-space gardens. Good for cutting. Pest and disease resistant.