How to Grow Lophospermum Plants

 

The Lophospermum plants are a rare jewel from Mexico. The plant is not terribly hardy but they can be easily grown in containers and moved to a sheltered location in winter. Just keep on reading to learn more about this interesting plant, including tips on how to grow the plant.

 

Lophospermum Plants Info

Lophospermum also known as creeping gloxinia is a relative of foxglove. The plant is commonly referred to as creeping gloxinia and is not related to gloxinia plants. The Creeping gloxinia has been placed in numerous genera and finally landed in Lophospermum. The creeping gloxinia is actually a tender climbing plant with bright pink (or white), deeply throated flowers that coat the plant in deep color. 

Creeping gloxinia care is fairly specialized, but the plant has no serious disease or pest issues. Once the plant is established, the plant is a startling spectacle of hot pink or white flowers and soft, velvety leaves. The vine can grow about eight feet in length and twines around itself and any object in its upward growth. The leaves of the plant are triangular and so soft that you want to pet them. The tubular, three inch flowers are funnel shaped and very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. In USDA zones seven to eleven, the plant is an evergreen plant but is grown as a summer annual in cooler climes, where it blooms all season long until the first frost. Growing creeping gloxinia as a colorful cover for a fence, trellis, or in a hanging basket provides a flowered shield that just keeps blooming.  

How to Grow Lophospermum Plants

The Lophospermum plant is a Mexican native plant that needs well-draining, slightly sand soil in a full sun to partially sunny area. Any soil pH is fine with the Lophospermum plant. Lophospermum plant grows rapidly and needs plenty of nutrients.

Creeping gloxinia often self-seeds and you can start new plants readily with the seed sown in flats and kept at temperatures of sixty-six to seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. Creeping gloxinia has a tuberous root system that can also be divided to propagate more plants. Take the plant root cuttings in summer. Once flowering stops you can easily cut back the plant. You can mulch around in-ground plants to help keep the roots warm.   

 

Creeping Gloxinia Care

The gardeners in the north that are actually growing Creeping gloxinia should grow the plant in a container so it can be easily moved indoors when frost threatens. The soil needs to be kept moist but not soggy and also use a time release, granular fertilizer in spring. There are actually no listed diseases or pests of any concern but water the plant from the base in other to prevent fungal issues. In cooler regions the plant should be brought indoors or treated as an annual. If you save the seeds you will be able to start another Lophospermum plant for the next season.