How to Grow Mentzelia Plants
Guide to Growing Blazing Stars, Moonflowers and Stickleafs
Members of the Mentzelia plant genus are hardy annuals and hardy biennials that reach from 45 cm to 1.2 m (18 inches to 6 feet) in height.
Mentzelia have a bushy nature. They carry golden cup shaped flowers that bloom in the early summer.
A common name for Mentzelia is Blazing Star.
Mentzelia involucrata - Sand Blazing Star by MiguelVieira; creative commons.
Mentzelia pectinata - San Joaquin blazing star by Steveberardi; cc.
Mentzelia Plant Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Blazing Stars, Stickleafs, Moonflowers, Evening Stars, Yellowcomet. Blazing Star: Shining; Spinyhair; San Luis; Sand; White Bract; Grass; Whitestem.
Family: Loasaceae.
Life Cycle: Hardy annual. Hardy biennial. Hardy perennial.
Height: 2 to 40 inches (5 to 100 cm).
Native: Americas.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10.
Flower Details: Yellow, cream, orange. Cup-shaped.
Foliage: Basel rosette. Lobed. Irregularly toothed.
Sow Inside: No.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Soil pH 5.5 to 8. Rich soil. Moist soil. Can survive in dry soils. Regular feed. Regular watering. Cut back after first bloom for a chance of a second.
How to Grow Blazing Star and other Mentzelia plants in the Garden
It is best to grow blazing star (Mentzelia) outdoors from seeds, or by planting blazing star plants purchased from a garden center.
Sow the seeds out after the last frost of spring (in very warm areas, seeds can be sown in the autumn). Cover the blazing star seeds once sown.
Mentzelia plants like to grow in a sunny area that has good drainage.
Blazing star has a preference for a fertile soil that is moist and has a pH of 5 to 8.
Caring for Blazing star in the Garden
Blazing Star is an easy plant to grow and maintain in the garden. For best results water regularly to keep soil moist and feed often.
Once the Mentzelia plant has bloomed cut back the plant to about 50 cm (20 inches), this may result in another bloom.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Mentzelia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow buttercups, Zinnia angustifolia, Uvularia plant, and Pulsatilla plants.
If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. Available for Kindle (MOBI), iPad (ePub) and as a PDF.
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