The Canarian ash flower, also known as the garden cineraria or lice flower, is not only an exotic but poisonous houseplant, but also an eye-catcher in the garden. Their pretty two-tone flowers transform your beds into a sea of color in spring.
When can the ash flower go outside?
The ash flower can be placed outside or planted in spring as it is partially hardy and can tolerate light frost. It prefers a cool, bright location without direct sunlight and flowers for up to 5 weeks.
When can the ash flower go outside?
The ash flower is considered to be conditionally hardy because it can also tolerate light frost. Therefore, you can put this plant outside or plant it in spring and don't have to wait for the ice saints to arrive. Although ash flower hybrids are often sold as annual plants, lice flower is actually perennial. After overwintering she can go back into the garden.
The ash flower should spend the winter cool and bright, for example in a greenhouse or an unheated winter garden. She doesn't feel particularly comfortable in your warm, well-heated living room. Here it may do great honor to its name Lice Flower. Therefore, check the plant regularly for pest infestation.
In the bed or in the bucket?
Although it also grows in a bed, ideally you place the ash flower in a bucket, so you have flexibility in choosing the location and can set accents in different places in the garden. Care is also easier in a bucket. The ash flower likes well-drained and humus-rich soil. Your root ball should not dry out, but neither should it become waterlogged.
Can I extend the blooming time of my ash flower?
With a flowering period from March to June, the ash flower is one of the early bloomers. The individual plant flowers for around five weeks. If you regularly pinch or cut off wilted flowers, this will encourage the plant to form more buds. A rather cool location also contributes to long and lush flowering. However, too much sunlight damages the ability to bloom.
The most important things in brief:
- conditionally hardy
- prefers a rather cool location
- needs a lot of light but no direct sun
- blooms up to 5 weeks
- Extending the flowering period by regularly pinching out wilted flowers
- winter cool and bright
Tip
The colorful flowers of the ashflower are a great sight in your spring garden. Combine the different flower colors tone on tone or spring-like colors.