Incarvillea sinensis
Incarvillea sinensis
Safety & Hazards
One report suggests that the plant might be slightly toxic[1].
Cultivation Details
Easily grown in a deep well-drained sandy but rich soil in full sun[2, 3]. Plants grow better if they are given some shade around midday[3]. Dislikes dry summer soils and winter wet[3]. One report says that this species should be grown in a greenhouse[2] whilst another says that it is hardy to about -15°, tolerating lower temperatures if the roots are well mulched, preferably with dry bracken[3]. The crown of the plant requires protection from slugs in the winter[4]. A very ornamental plant, it usually takes about 1 - 2 years to come into flower from seed[2]. A variable species[5], some forms are perennial whilst others are annual[2]. I. sinensis sinensis is an annual whilst I. sinensis variabilis (Batal.)Grierson is a perennial[3]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance, it is best to place them in their permanent positions whilst small[3]. The plants will often sulk for several years if they are divided[5].
Propagation
Seed - sow autumn or spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out into their permanent positions in spring after the last expected frosts. Division with care in early spring or autumn. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Incarvillea+sinensis>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Famine Foods listed in the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. — Reid. B. E. · Southern Materials Centre; Taipei · 1977 · ISBN - ↩︎A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.
- [2]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
- [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [4]Perennials. Volumes 1 and 2. — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books · 1991 · ISBN 0-330-30936-9 ↩︎Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
- [5]The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. — Matthews. V. · Royal Horticultural Society · 1994 · ISBN 1352-4186 ↩︎A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Himalayacalamus hookerianus, hardy Euphorbias and an excellent article on Hippophae spp.
- [6]Medicinal Plants of China — Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. · Reference Publications, Inc. · 1985 · ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ↩︎Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.