The hardy gloxinia is a showy herbaceous perennial native to central China. It is a member of the trumpetvine family (Bignoniaceae). The species epithet honors Père Jean Marie Delavay, a 19th-century French missionary and botanical explorer. Situate your plant in partial shade to full sun. In warmer climates, afternoon shade should be provided. Its taproot is quite fleshy, so good drainage is a necessity. A raised bed or container works well. The crown should be at or just above the soil surface. Container growing will also allow you to move your plants indoors as temperatures drop. Deadheading will prolong your bloom period. Colder planting locations may require some winter mulch for protection. This plant dislikes hot, humid summers. These plants are good for rock gardens, Asian gardens, shade gardens and cottage gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs frequent this plant. Crown rot and root rot are potential disease issues. More information on Incarvillea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Deeply cut, fern-like basal leaves up to 12" long arch borne in a rosette.
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Clusters of pink-red flowers with yellow throats. Each cluster contains 5 to 12 flowers, each 2 1/2" long. The flowers are borne on an erect bare inflorescence held above the foliage.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem detail
The stalks are leafless.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southwestern China
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Near Septic; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for dogs #heat intolerant #humidity intolerant #cutting garden #deer resistant #flower arrangement #herbaceous perennial #herbaceous