[Overview]
An annual or biennial 20–90 cm tall.
There are basal leaves and alternate stem leaves.
The basal leaves are palmately 3-lobed, and the lobes are further finely divided.
The basal leaves have petioles.
A raceme to panicle is borne at the tip of the stem.
The flowers have 5 conspicuous petal-like sepals, and the upper sepal has a long spur at the back.
The petals project in a small way at the center of the flower.
Flower colors include blue, pale purple, red, pink and white.
The fruit is a follicle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
Germination of the seeds is inhibited in hot weather, so sow them in late September or later, after the lingering summer heat has passed.
It prefers fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive, airy soil.
Grow it in a sunny, well-ventilated place.
In cool regions, some can get through the summer if kept on the dry side in airy partial shade.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply slow-release chemical fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and give additional fertilizer during the growing season.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew and damping-off.
