Poorman's Orchid Schizanthus pinnatus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ski-ZAN-thus PIN-nah-tus
- Description
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Butterfly Flower is a colorful, cool-weather annual or biennial in the nightshade family from the mountains of Chile and Argentina with blooms that look similar to an orchid without all the work that orchids can demand. The flowers occur in clusters from spring until the heat of summer in various colors from red, pink yellow, white and purple and often have a yellow throat. The foliage is attractive, deeply cut and fern-like. Genus name comes from the Greek schizo meaning to divide and anthos meaning a flower as the corolla is deeply cut. The species name refers to the deeply cut pinate leaves.
Butterfly Flower grows in well-drained average soil in sun to partial shade. It will benefit from some afternoon sun protection and is a poor performer in summer heat. The plant is easily sown from seeds.
The plant will grow to about 18 inches high and 1 foot wide and the tops can be pinched to encourage branching. Use in the border, cutting garden, containers or even as a houseplant. It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental bedding plant.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious diseases or insect problems. Do not overwater to prevent root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Angel Wings'
Summer blooms in mauve, pink. purple, and white. - 'Hit Parade'
Bushy annual, fern-like leaves, large open clusters of flowers in shades of pink and lilac. - 'Tinkerbell'
Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Lavender and white blooms.
- 'Angel Wings'
- 'Angel Wings', 'Hit Parade', 'Tinkerbell'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Angel Wings'
Summer blooms in mauve, pink. purple, and white. - 'Hit Parade'
Bushy annual, fern-like leaves, large open clusters of flowers in shades of pink and lilac. - 'Tinkerbell'
Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Lavender and white blooms.
- 'Angel Wings'
- 'Angel Wings', 'Hit Parade', 'Tinkerbell'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Schizanthus
- Species:
- pinnatus
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Chile
- Distribution:
- Introduced into Britain, Germany, Northeastern United States.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Houseplant
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Two inch blooms in clusters in various colors from May into late summer. Its variously colored flowers resemble the flowers of some orchids, hence the common name, Poor Man's Orchid.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Finely cut green leaves up to 4 inches long. with deeply cut leaves (to 4” long) having entire to dentate segments.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems with hairs. Plants typically grow to 18” tall on erect, branching stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
