Monday, May 11, 2009

Plant of the Week: Chinese Houses


I've always loved the common name for Collinsia heterophylla. When I was a kid, I would pretend that I could shrink down to size and clamber over the blossoms to make them my home. This native annual wins "plant of the week" for being just so darn pretty dressed all in lace and ribbons. What a dear!

Here's some quick stats:

Soil: not picky
Sun: part shade near the Bay, shade inland
Water: let the rain take care of it, but water once a week between showers
Height: 18"
Plant: if by seed, around Valentine's Day. Plant 4" pots in March(ish).
Buy it: annie's annuals for 4" pots or larner seeds for seed packets (if you can recommend another nursery, please share!)
Good for: continuing the spring ballet after the daffodils and irises have completed their solos and have left brown, wilty leaves. Also they attract bees!

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