The chocolate flower appears deep red and in a delicate form, which is at least as popular as the candy due to its appearance. Every year gardeners could enjoy the sight of them. But is that even possible? Is the chocolate flower perennial? We'll tell you.
The chocolate flower can thrive for several years
Chocolate scent over several years
The chocolate flower is a perennial shrub. With careful care, the blossom, which smells of milk chocolate, delights the gardener every year. However, it is not evergreen and does not flower during the winter.
conditions
Be careful not to confuse this perennial with a hardy plant. The chocolate flower originates from sun-drenched California, where temperatures are mild all year round. The winters here are too cold for the black cosmos. Frost, in particular, affects the flower. Therefore, winter care requires a little more effort, especially if you cultivate the chocolate flower outdoors.
Before the first night frosts set in, you need to move your crop to a warm location. If the flower grows in a bucket, it is relatively easy to do.
tips
Depending on how big and heavy your planter is, we recommend storing it on a caster. This saves you a lot of effort when changing location.
However, if your plant thrives in the garden bed, you must dig it up in good time. Be very careful not to damage the delicate roots.
You should have the work done by October at the latest. By this time the flower has already faded. Only the tuber is preserved. Overwintering an open ground chocolate flower is carried out according to these rules:
- Prepare pot with fresh substrate
- dig up the tuber
- plant in the potting soil
- store in a cool but not too cold place
- keep the plant pot warm and sunny from February (windowsill)
- the first shoots emerge from the ground in May
- wait for the last ground frosts during the ice saints (mid-May).
- only then plant in the usual location
If you always make sure that your chocolate flower does not get frost, you will enjoy it for a long time.