Pink, purple or white trumpets open above low clumps barely 40 to 60 cm (15¾ to 23½ in) high, which makes incarvillea a natural choice for a bed, a border or a planter. It is hardy and easy to care for, but it wants a rather rich soil: feed it well and flowering is generous.
| Name | Incarvillea |
|---|---|
| Family | Bignoniaceae |
| Type | perennial |
| Height | 15¾ to 23½ inches (40 to 60 cm) |
| Soil | rather rich |
| Exposure | sunny and half-shade |
| Flowering | late spring to early summer |
It’s easy to care for, it is often used to chase away moles… though not everyone agrees on its effectiveness!
There are 14 varieties of Incarvillea, with Incarvillea delavayi being the most common.
We recommend planting Incarvilleas in fall.
Spring planting is possible but ensure regular watering.Dig a hole about 4 to 4¾ inches deep (10/12 cm) and maintain a spacing of 6 to 7¾ inches (15/20 cm) between each rhizome.
You can sow Incarvillea seeds in the spring, from February until May under shelter and in May-June directly in the ground.
For sheltered sowing, wait until the end of the ice saints before placing.
Incarvillea can be started from rhizomes, from seed or by splitting an established clump, and the route you choose decides how soon you see flowers. Here are the options described in this article, side by side.
| Method | When | What to do | Point to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planting rhizomes (recommended) | Autumn | Dig a hole 4 to 4¾ in (10/12 cm) deep, spacing rhizomes 6 to 7¾ in (15/20 cm) apart | The preferred season for planting |
| Planting rhizomes | Early to mid-spring | Same depth and spacing as autumn planting | Possible, but water regularly |
| Division of the clump | Autumn or early spring | Split an established clump into pieces and replant | The easiest way to multiply plants you already have |
| Sowing under shelter | Late winter to late spring | Sow seed under shelter, then plant out | Wait until the end of the ice saints before placing out |
| Sowing in open ground | Late spring to early summer | Sow seed directly where the plants are to grow | Flowering only 2 to 3 years after sowing |
Rhizomes planted in autumn are the shortest route to flowers; seed asks for patience.
No pruning is necessary.
You can remove the faded flowers as they appear, this stimulates the emergence of new flowers.
These nice little perennials offer a beautiful spring bloom that extends until early summer.
Forming pink, purple or white trumpets depending on the species, it will easily find its place in a bed, border, or planter.
Adding some type of rich soil amendment is desirable as this plant has high nutritional needs.
