Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Description:

This aquatic variety can grow immersed, or floating upon water and is used primarily in aquariums; can also be grown pondside in wet soil; white pom-pom flowers in summer; highly invasive in warm, wet climates, locate with caution

Ornamental Features

Senegal Tea Plant features airy white ball-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to late summer. Its serrated pointy leaves emerge coppery-bronze in spring, turning dark green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Senegal Tea Plant is an herbaceous annual with a more or less rounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading
• Invasive

Senegal Tea Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Water Gardens
• Container Planting
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Senegal Tea Plant will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings.

Senegal Tea Plant is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.