Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Isodon effusus, Plectranthus longituba

Description:

Impressive spikes of sky blue flowers in mid to late fall, are massed above bright green foliage with serrated edges; mounded form should be occasionally trimmed back to maintain shape; a lovely addition to the garden or containers; heat tolerant

Ornamental Features

Trumpet Spurflower features showy spikes of sky blue tubular flowers with violet overtones rising above the foliage from mid to late fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive serrated pointy leaves are light green in colour. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous buttery yellow in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Trumpet Spurflower is an herbaceous annual with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Trumpet Spurflower is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Trumpet Spurflower will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity extending to 4 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this 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 does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Trumpet Spurflower is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use 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.