Crown of Spring

Who doesn’t want his garden to be awash with colour, especially during the Spring season. The list of flowers that you can add to your garden during Spring is rather long and a keen gardener is generally spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting flowers. If you are looking to add some new flowers this year then try out beautiful Godetia. It is a hardy annual that is rather under-appreciated but produces most elegant flowers. Godetia blooms in white, pink, purple lavender and purple flowers. It presents a breathtaking display of flowers for a long period and is also called “Farewell to Spring”. 

Godetia is easy to grow. But it is rather rare to see this plant in the plains, however, as one travels towards hills the presence of Godetia is difficult to miss. It is a small to medium-sized flowering plant depending upon the variety. The single flowers resemble poppies, semi-double and double blooms are prettily frilled.  Godetia is a sun loving plant, so grow it at a sunny location with good drainage. 

Irrigate just to keep the soil moist as the plant does not accept over-watering. It does not tolerate hot or humid climates but performs well even in an average moist well-drained soil.

Propagation and care

Propagation is done by seeds. Godetia re-germinates as the growing conditions become favourable next year. 

Transplanting is not very successful, therefore, direct sowing should be done. Nowadays seeds are also sown in ‘plug- trays which are easy to tend and transplant. 

If sown in flower beds, rake the flower bed nicely to a fine mixture so that the medium becomes suitable for sowing and growing seeds. The flower beds are prepared as for all other annuals. 

The plant has a good spread so there is no need to plant the saplings closely.  Seeds are sown in rows with plant-to-plant distance of 12-18 inches and row-to-row distance of 24 inches. 

The seeds germinate within 2-3 weeks. After 30 to 45 days thinning can be done if the bed gets overcrowded. A few varieties require staking as well. 

The flowering plant which remains semi-dormant during harsh winters bursts into colour as the temperatures become favourable. The flower remains in bloom for about two months.

Godetia with its conspicuous super long and sturdy stems are wonderful as cut flowers. In fact, it is more known for as a cut flower. When using it in the floral display cut it when the first flower has opened and enjoy the bloom for about week or so. 

These plants also grow as wild flowers in meadows in the hilly areas where the brilliant flowers stand out among the grass.