Id-Code: PA 233
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Origin: Complex hybrid between Mexican and American species
Special Features: Abundant blooms and first-year-flowering
History: Introduced by Jelitto in 2005
Colour: Tubular ruby red flowers with white throats
Natural Flowering Period: June - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z5-8
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage: Narrow glossy leaves
Height with Flower: 40 cm (16'')
Spacing between Plants: 40 cm (16'')
Soil Requirement: Well-drained soils; 5.8 - 7.2 pH
Location: Full sun
Use: The Sunburst series are great for retail sales and landscape use - rock garden, planters, or sweeping drifts in the border. Plant together with Coreopsis 'Sunshine Superman', Dracocephalum 'Blue Dragon' and Oenothera 'Silver Wings'
Specialities: Requires little maintenance. First year flowering.
Cultural Tips:
Scheduling:
Growing On:
Grams per 1000 Seeds: 0,5
Seeds per Gram: 2000
Seeding Recommendation: 1 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 128 or 288
Germination: Rapidly germinating, keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about +20°C [68°F]. Seeds must be covered thinly. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. The germination might be slower and more irregular. This poses no problems.
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 15 cm (6''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: Some flowering will occur the first year without vernalization, but improved flowering will occur the 2nd year; and 3-10 weeks of cool temperatures might benefit fuller flowering in the first year.
Forcing: There has been no research on 'Sunburst Ruby', but an obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Some later flowering species can be forced in 14 - 16 weeks and perhaps sooner at warmer temperatures. Further experiments are warranted with 'Sunburst Ruby'.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)
