Flowers

Painted Tongue (Salpiglossis): Timing, Spacing, Care & Bloom

Quick answer

Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost (Purdue). Transplant at last frost (Purdue).

Painted Tongue (Salpiglossis) at a glance

PlantStart indoors: 8 wk before last frost; Transplant: last frost
SunFull sun; cool climates hold bloom longer (NC cultural).
SpacingGive air flow for tall funnel spikes; stake if needed in wind.
Days to bloomBloom season
-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1LF+1+2+3
■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
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Updated

Painted tongue is Salpiglossis sinuata — cool-season annual with funnel flowers and veining.

Painted tongue flower
Painted tongue (Salpiglossis sinuata). Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized).

Sourced from university extension guides. For dates where you live, use the ZIP planting planner.

Planting timing

Purdue HO-14: Salpiglossis (Painted Tongue) — 8 weeks before last frost; frost tolerance after harden none. (Purdue HO-14-W) Purdue HO-203 lists Salpiglossis as warm-loving — plant “1 to 2 weeks after the average frost-free date” (not). WSU 8–10 weeks sowing to transplant.

Depth and spacing

Give air flow for tall funnel spikes; stake if needed in wind.

Sun, soil and water

Full sun; cool climates hold bloom longer (NC cultural).

Care and bloom

Funnel flowers with marbling/veins; summer to frost in cool climates; cut flower (NC).

Pests and diseases

Cultural spacing first.

Related: ZIP planner · planting calendars

Frequently asked questions

When do I start?

8 weeks before last frost (Purdue).

When transplant?

At last frost.

What is Salpiglossis?

The botanical name for painted tongue.

Sources