[Overview]
A bedding plant that bears many flowers.
Most are perennials, but some are shrubs.
In horticulture, most are treated as annuals.
The leaves are usually opposite, and sometimes those on the upper part of the stem are alternate.
The flowers are borne in panicles or racemes at the stem tips, or singly.
The corolla is tubular and two-lipped.
Flower colors are varied, including white, red and purple.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by division.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so care is needed.
It is suited to cultivation in cool regions.
