Cardinal Catchfly
Are you longing for a brilliant pop of color for your drought resistant Pismo Beach garden? Cardinal catchfly, a native to our area, is a welcome alternative to succulents and wild grasses. Cardinal catchfly, also called Indian pink, Mexican pink and Mexican campion, is a saffron-colored flowering herb. Each stem bears multiple blooms.The blooms have long stamens that are fully revealed as the flower unfolds. Cardinal catchfly needs a bit of extra care compared to some other drought tolerant plants, but it also has some special qualities you’re sure to love.
Perennial Beauty
Cardinal catchfly will return every year to brighten your garden. The plant starts growing from a central taproot, and then drops its seeds at the end of the growing season, starting new plants. After a few years, your garden will be a riot of blossoms from May through August. The new blossoms are true orange and slightly resemble trumpet flowers. If you want cut flowers for a dramatic centerpiece, wait until the petals are fully opened and the stamens are showing.
The stems of cardinal catchfly can reach heights of two and a half feet, but usually top out at two feet or slightly less. This makes it an ideal flower to plant in front of tall grasses or along garden fences. It looks beautiful mingled with flowers of similar or slightly taller height. Cardinal catchfly complements red lava rock and red mulch. It also adds color to your rock garden.
Special Planting Needs
Unlike many drought resistant California plants, cardinal catchfly does best with a little shade. It’s often found growing near pine trees in the wild. You can still have cardinal catchfly in your sunny garden. We can tell you the best place in your yard to plant cardinal catchfly. It typically needs water only twice a month.
We recommend planting cardinal catchfly with plants that can help support the heavily flowered, delicate stems. You can also use a trellis to support the plants and to add an attractive landscaping element to your garden.
Cardinal catchfly is the perfect drought tolerant flower for a sloping yard with lots of gravel in the soil. It also grows well in sandy yards. The most important thing is that your soil has good drainage.
Worth the Care
Cardinal catchfly is more than just a drought tolerant beauty. It’s a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. If you love the idea of sitting on your patio watching hummingbirds dart back and forth, plant cardinal catchfly. Cardinal catchfly is also an important element of a bird and butterfly garden. It’s the perfect plant if you’re trying to attract pollinators. More pollinators in your garden mean more beautiful flowers.
Things to Remember
• Cardinal catchfly is a short to medium flower
• Cardinal catchfly requires support due to weak stems
• It needs twice monthly watering and good drainage
Because cardinal catchfly requires some special care, it’s important to work with a landscaper if you’re considering adding it to your yard. Please contact us if you’re interested in cardinal catchfly and other pollinator friendly, drought resistant plants. We’ll help you design your garden, and then we’ll do all the maintenance.