Japanese name: タリヌム カリキヌム Scientific name:Talinum calycinum
[Overview]
A perennial about 25 cm tall, found on rocky ground and similar places in its native range.
It has fleshy roots.
The leaves are simple, arising from the base, fleshy and rod-shaped, up to 7 cm long.
The leaves turn red when touched by frost.
Cymes at the tips of flower stalks 25 cm tall bear sparse pink to reddish-purple flowers with 5–8 petals.
The flowers open around noon and close in the late afternoon.
The fruit is a spherical capsule 6–7 mm across, which splits open when ripe.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It also multiplies readily from self-sown seed.
The aboveground parts die back with frost, but if the roots do not freeze, it sprouts again the following year.
It prefers fertile soil in a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated site.
It tolerates shade, but becomes weak and flowers poorly.
It is resistant to drought.
When watering, take care to avoid excess moisture; for potted plants, from spring to autumn water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and in winter stop watering to let it overwinter.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
In spring, apply a small amount of slow-release chemical fertilizer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
