Tassel Flower, Scarlet tasselflower
Emilia coccinea

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae

What it is like

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.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

Not known in a truly wild situation

Tropical Asia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Leaves - raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a potherb.

Medicine

Rating: 1

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

Miscellany: Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.

Other

Rating:

Miscellany: A rag-bag of items that are difficult to categorise.

How it is grown

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

Propagating it: 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. The seed can also be sown outdoors in situ in the middle of spring.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

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