Another flower arranger's dream! What an elegant foliage or accent for fresh bouquets...We also use it in our landscape as an elegant annually sown hedge, the variegated bracts serving as soft landing pads for the bees and butterflies that enjoy the nectar within the tiny flowers! Once your plants go to seed at summer's end, mourning doves will visit to replenish their energy from the seeds.
BASIC FEATURES
Bloom Season: Late Spring through Late Summer
Days to Flowering: 110 - 120 days
Photoperiod Classification: Long-Day (optimal sunlight is 6 to 8 hours, but note that the bracts gain their variegation as daylength shortens)
Deadhead: Yes, to encourage rebloom and delay seed development
Staking: Not necessary
Height at Maturity: 35"
Recommended Spacing: 6 - 9"
STARTING SEEDS INDOORS
When to Sow: Early March
When to Harden Off: About 5 weeks after germination
When to Transplant to Garden: About 6 weeks after germination, as long as there is no chance of frost
STARTING SEEDS OUTDOORS
When to Direct Sow Seeds in Garden: late April
FOR FLOWER ARRANGING
For maximum vase life (7 to 10 days): Only pick stems in the morning, when bracts are fully colored, but before flowers are fully open.. Cut those stems at a 45-degree angle for maximum water uptake, and dip the stem ends in boiling water for 7 to 10 seconds to stop the flow of milky sap. Then place the seared stems directly into fresh, lukewarm water, in a cool, draft-free area, out of direct sunlight. Trim away any wilted or browning leaves that develop, which can draw away moisture from the blossoms.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO YOUR GARDEN
Attracts and Supports: birds (mourning doves), butterflies (late-season species), and bees (several species)
Ignored By: Deer and Rabbits