Peter Knippel Garden Centre Plant Finder

Other Names:  Hattie's Pincushion

Description:

Beautiful silvery-pink pincushion flowers, high over blue-green leaves with wide vanilla margins; great on streambanks or in a moist border, doesn't like to dry out; cut back after flowering for a second flush

Ornamental Features

Vanilla Gorilla Variegated Masterwort features airy cymes of pink pincushion flowers with silver overtones rising above the foliage from early to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its ferny pinnately compound leaves remain bluish-green in colour with distinctive creamy white edges throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Vanilla Gorilla Variegated Masterwort is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Vanilla Gorilla Variegated Masterwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Vanilla Gorilla Variegated Masterwort will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.