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Salpiglossis sinuata Tora Staring Eyes - Painted Tongue, Trompettes de velours

Salpiglossis sinuata Tora Staring Eyes
Painted Tongue, Trompettes de velours

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A spectacular blend of four colours. Each flower features intense, contrasting veined patterns on the petals. The colours include white, purple, pink and red, all enhanced by golden to orange central veins that evoke a radiant 'eye'. Unlike other salpiglossis intended for borders or containers, the 'Staring Eyes' also makes a good cut flower. In sunny conditions, the plants will flower from June to September. Sowing is best done under cover in seed trays from March onwards.
Flower size
5 cm
Height at maturity
45 cm
Exposure
Sun
Germination time (days)
20 days
Sowing method
Sowing under cover
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Sowing period March to May
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Flowering time June to September
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Description

The Salpiglossis sinuata 'Tora Staring Eyes' is a blend of 4 cultivars with pastel colours adorned with highly contrasting patterns. These are remarkable annual plants for decorating borders and containers, but also for creating vibrant cut flower arrangements. Their large funnel-shaped flowers marked with golden to orange veins bloom throughout the summer. The coated seeds facilitate easy and homogeneous sowing.

The Salpiglossis sinuata 'Staring Eyes' is a plant from the Solanaceae family. It is nicknamed 'velvet trumpet', 'painted tongue', or 'scalloped tube tongue'. The species type, Salpiglossis sinuata, is native to southern Chile where it grows spontaneously in open meadows, forest edges, and recently disturbed areas. Although perennial in its natural environment, it is cultivated as an annual in our latitudes due to its low hardiness (-1 to -3°C).

Developed by Takii Europe, introduced in 2025, the 'Staring Eyes' belongs to the 'Tora' series known for its floral quality, plant uniformity, and rich colour range. This blend produces flowers of 5 cm in diameter, displaying a wide spectrum of hues—pure white, deep violet, cherry pink, and brick red—all marked by strong golden to orange veins centred around a bright heart. The visual effect is spectacular, evoking a piercing gaze. Unlike other salpiglossis more commonly used in borders, the 'Staring Eyes' is selected for cut flowers with improved longevity and exceptional ornamental value. Each plant forms an upright, slightly bushy clump within a few weeks, reaching approximately 45 cm in height with a 30 cm spread. The abundant flowering extends from July to September. The velvety, lobed flowers are grouped in terminal clusters. They are visited by bees and butterflies. The foliage consists of lanceolate, medium green leaves 7 to 15 cm long, with slightly undulate or dentate margins, borne on finely villous and slightly sticky stems. Pollinated flowers produce capsules containing fine seeds, which can be harvested for sowing for the following season.

The Salpiglossis sinuata 'Tora Staring Eyes' excels in containers, providing abundant colour and originality throughout the summer. This selection is also perfectly suited to floral arrangements, mixed with the single-flowered Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' and Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Black Knight' for example. In a flower box, it pairs wonderfully with Pennisetum x advena 'Rubrum', Calibrachoa 'Superbells Unique White' or Nemesia 'Sunsatia Plus Anona'.

The coated seeds are covered with a thin layer of natural, often clay-based material which facilitates their handling and sowing. This coating improves seed visibility and promotes more homogeneous germination. It may also contain nutrients or protective agents to support the young seedling in its early stages of development.

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Flowering

Flower colour multicoloured
Flowering time June to September
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 5 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Annual
Foliage colour medium green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 45 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate very fast

Botanical data

Genus

Salpiglossis

Species

sinuata

Cultivar

Tora Staring Eyes

Family

Solanaceae

Other common names

Painted Tongue, Trompettes de velours

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference24577

Planting and care

The Salpiglossis 'Tora Staring Eyes' is best sown under cover in seed trays from March onwards. If frosts are still persistent in your area, wait until April, as the seeds prefer a temperature between 18 and 25°C to germinate.

Just cover the seeds with a thin layer of compost, keeping it slightly moist. They will germinate within 14 to 30 days. Be sure to place the trays in sunlight as the seeds need light to sprout. You can also cover them with a plastic bag to maintain a warm, humid environment. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, you can separate them and pot them up if the frost period is not yet over, keeping them warm (by bringing them outside during the day) until planting out in the open ground in May. Alternatively, you can place them in planters or pots. You can gradually acclimatise them if nights are still cool by taking them out of their shelter during the day. Prefer a rich compost-based substrate, neither too dry nor waterlogged.

To encourage further branching of the Salpiglossis, pinch out the growing tips of the stems.

 

Sowing period

Sowing period March to May
Sowing method Sowing under cover
Germination time (days) 20 days

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Cut flowers, Container, Greenhouse
Hardiness Hardy down to -4°C (USDA zone 9b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil moisture Moist soil Rich and well-drained soil.

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