Grown in mass plantings, Butterfly Flower offers an incredible display of color. Also known as Poor Man's Orchid, the blooms are exotic looking and orchid-like. The annual attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and it can be used as a cut flower. A great, colorful, long-blooming mix!

Start Butterfly Flower seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks prior to the end of frost season.

Choose a location for Butterfly Flowers that has moist, rich soil that drains well. Also, morning sunshine and afternoon shade is best. The plants don't perform well in hot, full sun exposures.

• Sow the flower seeds in starter trays
• Lightly cover the seeds with soil
• Keep the trays moist and warm for germination
• It may be helpful to cover the trays with plastic wrap to hold in moisture
• Once seedlings emerge, remove the plastic
• Pinch the young plants back to encourage bushier growth
• Harden off the plants for 7 - 10 days
• Transplant outside and space the plants about 12 inches apart

• Water regularly to establish the plants
• One application of fertilizer during the growing season is helpful
• Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more
• May need to support the plants if there's wind
• Butterfly Plants are sensitive to temperatures - heat and cold - grow in containers that can be moved indoors as needed
• Can be grown as a house plant