Well, I’m not really new to flower gardening but growing Tassel Flowers is new to me. The one I’m growing is “Irish Poet”. I have about a dozen plants, under fluorescent lights, that I started from seed.

My question is in regard to planting them out in the garden area when the time comes to do that. Would they look okay if planted separately, here and there, to sort of fill in some bare spots? Or do they need to be planted in groups to make any kind of impression at all. From pictures I’ve seen, the flowers (and maybe the entire plant) look really small.

Anyone here had any experience with this plant? You ideas and suggestion would be very much appreciated.

Art

Hi Art and welcome to All Things Plants! Glad to see you!

I had never heard of the Tassel Flower until your post and did a little digging .. Your 'Irish Poet' is beautiful and I'm going to be getting seeds for them myself!

Here is a link to information about the plant in our plant data base .. it will tell you pretty much everything you need to know about them:



In a nut shell, they are annuals, like full sun and well drained soil. I'd plant them in clumps.

I also welcome you to ATP.
I had heard of Tassel Flower, but like Anne wasn't familiar enough to answer your question without looking it up. That now poses a question...which Emilia species do you have?

https://www.sarahraven.com/flo...

Thanks Xeramtheum and Moonhowl for your replies, much appreciated. The species is not mentioned on the seed package. However, I went back to the site where I ordered the seeds and they are listed as “Emilia javanica”. According to the seed package, the plants should be spaced 6 to 9 inches apart in full sun.

I wanted to grow these (as single plants) for filling in small bare areas in the garden. However, anything planted only 6 or 9 inches apart must be pretty small. I’m wondering if they would even show up if planted that way

Art

The site I checked, said plant 6 to 9 inches apart (seeds) and thin to 12 inches apart. It said they grow to 24 inches tall. Perhaps planting them in groups of 2 or 3 plants per bare spot might give you both a fuller look and more impact than a single plant may.

Okay, thanks again Moonhowl (Jean),
I'll plant them 12 inches apart (3 in a group). I think I'll be happier with that than planted separately.

Art

I have grown Emilia coccinea, even though I thought it was a weed. My daughter picked it out. But, it is nice and it reseeds every year, but not enough to be invasive. It is a very slender, small plant/flower but I occasionally use them in my bouquets. I have had the orange and red.

Hi ArtD, Welcome to All Things Plants!

Wow, Tassel Flower (Emilia javanica 'Irish Poet') is a pretty one! If you scroll down the page it gives a bit of information about propagation and when to plant out.

Thanks abhege and plantladylin for the replies!
Yes, from the photos I saw on the internet I figured they would be slender plants.
Sometimes, tall slender plants are easily pushed over by the wind, so I suppose planting in groups would be helpful in the respect.

The area where I want to plant them consist of all orange, yellow, and purple flowers, so it should fit right in The plant is very pretty (I love orange anyway), I just hope it’s not so small that it doesn’t show up very well.

Art

I grew it in between perennials. Worked great for support. You would be surprised how much a tiny flower stands out

Hi Jennifer and thanks for your reply.
Did you plant individual plants, between your perennials, or did you plant in groups?

Art

Individuals at first. Then they reseeded and I let them grow where they came up

Jennnifer - Appreciate your help.

Art

Art, just an FYI, Jennifer is my daughter who got me growing them even though I protested, saying they were weeds!

Well, if they're weeds they're sure pretty ones!

Art