Japanese name: オノエマンテマ Scientific name:Gypsophila cerastioides
[Overview]
A perennial 10–27 cm tall, but treated as an annual in Japan.
The whole plant is covered with white hairs.
The leaves are of two kinds: basal leaves and leaves on the stem; the basal leaves have petioles.
The leaves on the stem are simple and opposite, obovate-spatulate, 0.5–1.5 cm long and 0.3–1.2 cm wide, with hairs on the margin.
A cyme at the stem tip bears 5–20 white or pale purple five-petaled flowers about 0.4–1.3 cm across.
The petals have three pale reddish-purple stripes.
The bracts are leaf-like, ovate, 0.2–0.5 cm long, with hairs on the margin.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by stem cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated place.
It dislikes acidic soil and excess moisture.
It is easier to grow on slightly dry, poor soil.
Take care not to make the soil too wet when watering; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and move them out of the rain during long rainy spells.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply a base fertilizer, and in spring and autumn place slow-release fertilizer on the soil.
Pests and diseases include damping-off and aphids.
