Family
Scrophulariaceae
Botanical Name
Calceolaria crenatiflora
Plant Common Name
Pocketbook Flower
General Description
Chilean in origin, pocketbook flower produces perfect bulb-pouched yellow flowers dotted and streaked with maroon. The moderately cold-tolerant plant naturally inhabits moist, cool uplands with full to partial sun. In the garden, it is best grown as a bedding annual for containers and border edges. This species is parent to many Calceolaria hybrids cultivated today.
The simple green leaves of pocketbook flower are bright green and can remain semi-evergreen where winters are mild and moist. Flowers bloom early in the season, usually from spring to early summer. The pouch-shaped, maize yellow blooms are bulbous and elongated with scalloped lobes. At the top of each pouch is an opening bees enter to pollinate the flowers. The opening is dotted and streaked with maroon markings. Small seed capsules follow pollination.
Grow this as you would any cool season annual, such as pansies, twinspur or Nemesia. It requires full to partial sun and bloom gloriously in cool, mild weather and dry up quickly when conditions are hot and dry. This species is rarely available in commerce but makes an attractive container plant if you can obtain it.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 10
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Sunset Zone
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
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Width
10"-15" / 25.4cm - 38.1cm
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
Chile
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow, Burgundy
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
No
