[Overview]
An annual or perennial.
The leaves are simple and opposite, but alternate in the upper part of the stem.
Panicles or cymes at the stem tips bear many flowers.
The corolla is 5-lobed and opens flat.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by stem cuttings.
Sunlight requirements differ depending on the type.
It prefers fertile soil that is well drained and retains water well.
If the conditions suit it, it grows well even when left alone.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
For potted plants, apply slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn.
Remove spent flowers promptly.
Cutting back during the rainy season makes it easier to get through summer, and side shoots appear so that a second flush of flowers can be enjoyed.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, gray mold, aphids, slugs, Geisha flatid planthoppers and cutworms.
