Chinese Lantern Flower Seeds

About Chinese Lantern Flower Seeds

Chinese Lantern Flower Seeds grow in full sun, partial shade positions. Expect 24 inches at maturity. Flowering runs summer through fall. Harvest begins around 60 to 90 days from sowing. The figures below are the ones on the packets in this group; each product page carries the exact numbers for that variety.

When to plant

Plant in spring. Sow directly where the plants are to grow; this variety does not transplant happily. Hardy in zones 3 to 10 — your local frost dates decide the exact week.

Where to plant

Choose a site in full sun, partial shade. Water needs are average once the plants are established. Free-draining soil matters more than rich soil; seed sown into ground that stays wet rots before it germinates. Allow 8-10 inches between plants so air can move between them. Plan for 24 inches of growth when you place them in a bed or border.

How to plant

Sow 1/4 inch deep, spaced 8-10 inches apart. This seed needs light to germinate, so press it onto the surface and firm it in rather than burying it. Water gently to settle the soil, then keep the surface evenly moist until seedlings or shoots appear.

How to care

Keep watering average, at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves. In zones 3 to 10 these come back each year: let the foliage die down naturally after flowering, since that is what feeds next season's growth. Flowers appear summer through fall; cutting or deadheading regularly keeps more coming. Expect to start harvesting around 60 to 90 days after sowing.

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