Emilia coccinea Tassel Flower, Scarlet tasselflower PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Emilia coccinea is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

E. flammea. Cass. Cacalia coccinea. C. sagittata.

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[105]. Added to salads or used as a potherb[183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Miscellany

The plant is said to be used medicinally for children, but the report gives no more details[240].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Miscellany

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant[1], succeeding in most well-drained soils in a sunny position[200]. An ideal plant for hot dry areas and coastal soils[188]. Plants flower better when growing on nutritionally poor soils, producing much lusher growth on rich soils[200]. They are drought tolerant once established[200]. Plants are not frost hardy, but succeed outdoors in Britain as a spring-sown annual[200]. Slugs can be a problem with this plant in a wet spring[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts[1, 200]. The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ in the middle of spring[1, 200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AFRICA: Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Emilia sonchifolia	Cupid's Shaving Brush, Lilac tasselflower	Annual	0.6	8-11		LMH	N	M	3	2
Spiraea betulifolia aemiliana		Shrub	0.3	4-8		LMH	N	M	1	0

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

(Sims.)G.Don.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Emilia coccinea - (Sims.)G.Don.