Schizanthus pinnatus aka Poor Man's Orchid

Schizanthus pinnatus belongs to the nightshade family. It has a short life. Gardeners call it butterfly flower or poor man's orchid. Kew gives its native range as central and southern Chile. It grows as an annual, which lives for one year. Some sources also note biennial growth, which spans two years. People grow it for blooms that look like small orchids. It has spread beyond gardens in Britain and Germany. It has done so in the northeastern United States too.

Plants form upright clumps with green, hairy stems that branch. Garden height is about 1–1.6 feet [0.3–0.5 metres]. Sources give a spread of about 0.75–1.6 feet [0.23–0.5 metres]. The pale green leaves look like fern fronds. Deep cuts split each leaf into narrow parts. Leaves grow in turns along each side of the stems. Their edges may be smooth or toothed.

Groups of flowers rise above the finely cut leaves. Their uneven shape makes them look more like orchids. Blooms come in white, yellow, pink, red, and purple. Spots, streaks, and violet marks can contrast with the main colour. Many blooms have a yellow throat. Flowers measure about 0.08–0.26 feet [0.025–0.08 metres] across. Bloom dates depend on the climate and how plants grow. Missouri Botanical Garden gives May to June as bloom time. RHS lists blooms from spring through autumn. Summer heat can cut the show short. The fruit takes the form of a capsule.

Give this plant sun and soil that drains well. It can also grow in part shade. In warm sites, shelter from strong afternoon sun can help. RHS calls for rich soil that stays moist, not sodden. It accepts acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. Under glass, use loam-based compost that has no peat. Give a modest amount of water. Shade greenhouse plants from hot sun. RHS gives it hardiness H1C, for summer growth outdoors. The listed USDA range is 2–11. Gardeners grow it as an annual in these zones.

Use it in beds, borders, pots, or hanging baskets. It suits gardens for cut flowers and grows indoors too. Pinch young shoot tips to help more branches grow. Flower stems may need support. Cut plants back once their blooms have gone. Sow seed in mid-spring for summer and autumn blooms. Sow in late summer for winter blooms under glass. It needs a moderate level of care. But hot summers can lead to poor growth. It rarely has serious problems with pests or disease. Aphids may attack plants in a greenhouse. Too much water can cause root rot.