Propagation
Sow fresh seeds during early spring in flats and prick out when large enough to handle. Plant out after the frost period has ended and space large types 350 mm (14 in) apart and dwarf types 200 mm (7ľ in) apart.

Take soft tip cuttings in early summer and place in a protected environment.

Culture
Young plants may be pruned to form a bushy habit and spent flower heads should be removed to encourage a longer flowering period. During autumn healthy plants may be cut back hard, and encourage through cultivation to regrow and flower in the following year.


Botanic information
Leaf: The ovate leaves havemargins that is crenate to serrate and the apex is acuminate. Thepetiole is as long as the leafup to 80mm (3?in).

Flower: The red tubulate flowershave a persistent corolla that protrudes from the campanulate calyx. They are arranged in-groups of 20 to 30 that are whorled in opposite pairs in a terminal spike that appears above the foliage from summer to autumn.

Fruit: This perennial produces viable seed via a nutlet that develops inside the calyx. The small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively. The seed has are not encouraged are normally removed during cultivation.