Gomphocarpus physocarpus 'Hairy Balls'

swan plant

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: poor, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: fast
• Flowering period: June to August
• Flower colour: cream or greenish white
• Other features: interesting, rounded fruits follow the flowers
• Hardiness: tender annual
  
  Primarily grown for its wonderfully exotic-looking fruits, which follow on after the sprays of creamy-green flowers. These fruits look like small, softly spiny, lime green balls. They add a sense of fun to the planting scheme and make great additions to bouquets and cut arrangements. Quick and easy to grow in most well-drained soils.
  
  
• Garden care:Surface sow onto good compost that has been gently firmed down and watered. Keep at 20-23C until germination, making sure the soil is moist but not waterlogged. When large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into individual pots and grow on in cooler conditions. Pinch out the growing tips after 4 or 5 leaves have developed to encourage side shoots and harden off gradually before planting outside after all frosts have past.
  
  
• Sow: February to April
  
  
• Flowering: June-August
  
  
• Approximate quantity: 20 seeds