Nierembergia (Nierembergia Hippomanica Purple Robe) - Also called Purple Robe Cup Flower, this excellent ground cover plant has early, bright blooms of blue-violet or dark purple, and it establishes well from Nierembergia seeds. The mounding foliage has a fern-like appearance, is vigorous, and free-flowering all summer long. Nierembergia Purple Robe makes a wonderful addition next to other bedding-plants as it will not take over, but it fills its own space. Nierembergia Cupflower creates a colorful edging or ground cover in borders or rockeries all summer. In addition, purple Cup Flower makes a great container plant as well.

Sow Nierembergia seeds on the surface of lightly firmed, moist compost outdoors or in pots or trays and cover with a fine sprinkling of peat moss. Keep at a temperature of between 70 - 75F. After sowing this ground cover seed, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination of Purple Robe Cup Flower seeds usually takes 14 - 30 days. Cup Flower ground cover is perfect if you want a long-blooming, easy-care perennial to edge the front of a bed or border, and it flowers all summer. The Cup Flower plant is considered a perennial in zones 7 - 10 but it can be grown as an annual in cooler zones.