'Café Au Lait' Painted Tongue Seeds

Days to Maturity: 14 to 30

Fleuroselect Novelty Award 2021

'Café Au Lait' Painted Tongue is a tropical annual that blooms in cooler temperatures, typically spring to midsummer, often with a late-season autumn bloom as temperatures drop, possibly to first frost. Borne in clusters on stout stems, the stunning 2-inch trumpet-shaped blooms have velvety petals in an unusual bronzy coffee color with deep purple veins and golden throats. The flowers attract butterflies and make distinctive cuts for floral displays.

A Salpiglossis sinuate, commonly called painted tongue, scalloped tube tongue, or velvet trumpet flower, 'Café Au Lait' has an erect habit. Shown to best effect when planted in groups, the plants are well suited to the front of beds and borders and to containers.

Painted tongue grows best in areas with cool summers and in locations with full sun and fertile, evenly moist, well-draining soil. It loves cool weather, so in warmer climates, provide some afternoon shade. Pinching the tips of young plants encourages compact, bushy growth. Deadheading spent flowers and light feedings every 2 weeks promotes and prolongs blooming. Mulching will help keep roots moist and cool. The plant is generally pest resistant.

Growing painted tongue from seed is easy. Direct sow seed in spring or start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date and transplant after the threat of frost has passed. These poppies grow best when air temperature is between 65° and 70°F. The plants are susceptible to frost damage. Row covers offer added protection from excessively cold temperatures.

If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.

This seed comes as a pellet. Pelleted seeds are small seeds that have been clay-coated to make them larger and more uniform in size and shape, making them easier to handle when planting.