Guide to growing garden plants - Emilia Flora's paintbrush
Emilia are hardy and half hardy annuals that reach from 40 to 60cm in height.
Depending on the species they flower from Summer through the start of Autumn.
They carry small ball like scarlet flowers, and are ideal for use in the border and for use in flower arranging.
Common names for Emilia include Flora's Paintbrush, Devil's Paintbrush and Tassel flower.
How to grow Flora's Paintbrush (Emilia)
Flora's Paintbrush should be sown into a sunny part of the garden either after the last frost of spring or in the autumn. Once sown the Flora's Paintbrush seeds should be lightly covered with topsoil. They prefer to grow in a sunny area of the garden that has good drainage; the soil should be dry.
If you want to first grow Flora's Paintbrush seedlings indoors then they should be prepared about 8 weeks before they are due to be transplanted into the garden in the middle of spring, a few weeks after the last possible frost. The seeds of Emilia species are best planted in peat pots, and typically take one to two weeks to germinate in the dark at a temperature of 15 to 21 degrees Centigrade. The Flora's Paintbrush plants should be put in the garden at about 25cm apart. If you space them a little but closer then you may be able to create more blooms.