Full sun / Part shade

Low water

8"

Low mat-forming mound of well-branched stems

Treat it as a cool-season annual: it flowers best in spring and fall and sulks in midsummer heat.

Shear the planting after the first flush of bloom to trigger a second flush.

In hot-summer climates, cut declining plants back by half in the dog days; they typically revive as fall cools.

Easily grown from seed in average, medium-moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade; best with some afternoon shade in hot-summer regions. Sow seed directly in the ground several weeks before the last frost date, or start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost for earlier bloom. Set seedlings or purchased starter plants out just before the last frost date. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder)

Move nursery starter plants (commonly sold in cell/six-packs) out just before the last frost date; otherwise grown from direct-sown or indoor-started seed rather than divided. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder)

Tolerates dryish soils once up. Shear plantings after the first flush of bloom to encourage a second flush. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder)

Blooms spring to frost in cool-summer climates. In hot summers flowering and plants decline in the dog days, at which point cut plants back by one half; they usually revive as cooler fall temperatures arrive. Seed may also be sown in August for fall bloom. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder)

Propagated by seed, sown directly outdoors or started indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost. (Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder)