Flower lovers hunting for plants with unusually long blooming periods should consider the Achimenes. I have found it the almost perfect flower, one that will bloom and bloom. In a box 24 by 8 inches, there were plants with 562 open flowers by actual count in August. This profuse blooming does not last for one day only but for 6 months or more.
Achimenes apparently dislikes a deep root run; I allow about 6 inches. I plant them an inch deep and 3 inches apart each way. About 12 bulbs or one color planted together gives the best effect. For soil, I use black wood’s dirt and leaf mold with some sand; no fertilizer except after the plants are up, a top dressing- of pulverized manure may be applied.
The plants should be kept moist at all times, but when watering I am careful not to get the foliage wet. They require very little sun a little early morning sun, a north or east outside window box, or what sun comes through the branches of a tree is about the right amount. Rain does not seem to hurt them. Given the above treatment, they will be a mass of continuous bloom from 6 to 8 weeks from planting until November.
There are many types and colors Mexicana is a large 3-inch, deep pure blue with dark green velvety foliage. Pink Beauty is a soft clear pink only slightly smaller than Mexicana. Then there is Purity a large snowy white. Purple King has large fluted scalloped purple flowers with a yellow eye and large deep purplish bronze leaves. Carmen is a clear red with light yellowish velvety foliage. Madam Gehune is a maroon flower with almost red foliage. I have an unnamed variety which is almost like a giant pansy. The bottom petals are light blue with yellow eye and white blotches. The upper petals have dark blue blotches and the foliage is a bluish bronze, being almost blue on the bottom side of the leaves.
There are, I believe, about 40 varieties of Achimenes of which I have 8. I am always hunting new varieties and would be glad to hear from anyone knowing where they may be bought.
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