Guide to growing garden plants - Cotula (Pincushion plant)
Cotula have very fragrant orange flowers that bloom in the middle of summer.
The plants can be either half hardy annuals, half hardy perennials or hardy perennials.
Common names for members of the Cotula genus include Pincushion plant and Brass buttons.
Cotula coronopifolia by arcia Stefani; Creative commons.
Cotula lineariloba by Brewbooks; Creative commons.
Quick Cotula Growing Guide and Facts
Common Names: Buttonweed, Water Buttons, Brass Buttons, Bachelor's Buttons, Common Cotula.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual. Hardy perennial. Half hardy perennial.
Height: 4 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm).
Native: Southern Africa, Americas, Australasia. Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 1 to 10.
Flowers: Late spring and summer.
Flower Details: Yellow, orange. Disciform flowers. Sometimes tubular. Solitary heads.
Foliage: Very variable. Feathery. Blade.
Sow Outside: Cover seed. Following last frost. Spacing 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: two to three weeks. Temperature 50°F (10°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight or light shade. Moist soil. Regular watering. Deadhead. Perennials can be divided in in spring.
How to grow Pincushion plant (Cotula)
Pincushion plant seeds should be sown after the last frost of spring. Simply cover the seeds once sown, and grow in a sunny or lightly shaded area of the garden that has mist soil. If you plan to first grow seedlings indoors then Cotula members should be prepared about 7 weeks before they are due to be transplanted out after the last frost of spring. Pincushion plants and other Cotula members usually take two to three weeks to germinate at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. They should be spaced about 10 cm apart, and once growing require regular watering. An easy plant to care for, if you require more plants then perennial varieties of Cotula can be divided in the spring.