TASSEL-FLOWER
Family COMPOSITAE
Emilila flaimmea
Annual
Also known as Flora’s paintbrush, this
pretty half-hardy annual is a native of tropical
America.
It is sometimes listed as Cacalia coccinea. Reaching
a height of one to one and a half feet, the plant
has oval leaves and flowers, an inch across, of
bright scarlet that require careful placing among
other colours.
It has a form var. lutea, with flowers of golden
yellow.
Of similar height ,Emilila sonchifolia has toothed
foliage widening from the base, and flowers in
loose clusters that may vary from purple and rose
to white, and about half an inch across.
The soil must be rich and well drained, and the
exposure sunny.
Seed sown under glass in March with gentle heat
will produce seedlings that will be ready for
planting out in May.
Propagation is from seed.
The flowering season is from midsummer onwards.
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