How to Plant and Grow Ptilotus
A relative newcomer to North America’s horticultural scene, ptilotus, also called Mulla Mulla, bears spectacular spires of tall, feathery, silver-pink flowers. This plant’s thick, silver-green foliage is also quite ornamental. Try ptilotus in a container as a specimen plant, or grow it in large groups for a truly stunning display of bottlebrush-type blossoms. This plant can also be cut and dried for arrangements.
Where to Plant Ptilotus
With spires of silvery-pink blooms, ptilotus is a wonderful accent plant that also acts as a stunning specimen. While the blooms look soft and fuzzy, they are actually hard and bristly, and last for quite some time. This upright plant is ideal for the middle of a border surrounded by mounding or trailing plants. It's a good choice for a sunny cutting garden and will also grace a cottage-style border.
In a container, use ptilotus as a filler plant with other drought-tolerant and sun-loving annuals such as salvia and pentas.
Outside of the garden, these plants can be cut and dried for arrangements. Because of their stiff habit, the blooms hold up well, and make a great dried flower. The foliage itself is also very ornamental; it is thick and fleshy and comes in a lovely silvery-green color.
How and When to Plant Ptilotus
Plant container-grown plants or sow seeds in spring after all danger of frost has passed. If sowing seeds, it's a good idea to start them indoors to give this heat-loving plant a jump on the spring season. Amend garden soil to the ideal growing conditions (e.g. sandy soil) before planting and dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container. Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing in the hole. Keep the plant at the same soil level as it was growing in the pot—don't bury the neck. Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well to remove air pockets and settle the plant. It may not need any more attention from you after that.
Space multiple plants at least 12 inches apart in a cutting garden or 18 inches apart in a border.
Ptilotus Care
Light
Native to the arid plains of Australia, ptilotus is a plant that needs full sun (at least six to eight hours of sun daily) for best results.
Soil and Water
A low-maintenance plant, ptilotus thrives in well-drained soil and will perform well even in a sandy, lean environment. If your soil has more of a clay consistency, amend the soil with organic matter to improve the texture or opt for growing ptilotus in raised beds.
True to its native origins, ptilotus is a drought-tolerant plant that will succeed without supplemental watering except in the most severely arid conditions. If you do water with a hose, direct the spray at the base of the plant—don't water overhead or allow the ground to remain saturated.
Temperature and Humidity
Hot temperatures and dry summers won't faze ptilotus. This tough plant will put on its best displays when temperatures are sustained between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is not cold hardy, which is why it is considered an annual in most climates. Even in warmer climates, container-grown plants may need protection if night temperatures dip below 50 degrees.
Fertilizer
Ptilotus doesn't require any fertilization to excel in your garden. Add some organic matter at planting time if you want, especially if your soil is heavy, and then you can basically take a hands-off approach for the rest of the growing season.
Pruning
Ptilotus flowers tend to look a little ragged as they get older. Deadhead spent-looking blossoms to encourage a new flush of growth.
Potting and Repotting Ptilotus
When growing ptilotus in pots, many of the container-growing standards apply. Choose a pot with excellent drainage (terra-cotta is ideal) and fill it with a medium-coarse potting mix.
Since ptilotus is grown as an annual in most climates, repotting is not likely to be necessary.
Pests and Problems
Thrips and aphids may be attracted to your plants. If the numbers are small, they can often be washed away with a hose. Infestations can be treated with insecticidal soap.
Ptilotus is prone to root rot, an often-fatal problem that is hard to cure. Visit your local gardening center to get a fungicide designed to fight fungal pathogens within the soil. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully. (Pots that have held soil contaminated with root rot fungus should be soaked in bleach before reusing to make sure spores do not survive.)
How to Propagate Ptilotus
To grow ptilotus from seed, start your seeds indoors about two months before the last frost date. Place one seed in each cell or pot in well-drained, medium-coarse potting mix and lightly cover them (as they will need ample light to germinate). Mist them lightly and keep them in a warm location (preferably about 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit) with bright, indirect sunlight. Keep the soil moderately moist, but not soggy while the seeds germinate, which will likely take about 5 to 15 days. Once the seeds begin to sprout, move them to a warm, sunny location to continue growing.
Seedlings can be transplanted outdoors once soil temperatures are reliably above 65 degrees. For a smoother transition, harden your seedlings off by placing them outside for a few hours a day (for 5 to 7 days) and increasing the outside exposure a little more each day.
Types of Ptilotus
In its native habitat, ptilotus tends to grow large and weedy-looking. Breeders have created compact varieties for use in containers and gardens.
Matilda Ptilotus
Ptilotus exaltatus 'Matilda' blooms from June to October on plants that grow up to 32 inches high. The 3- to 6-inch, pointed bottlebrush flowers rise on vase-sturdy stems
Joey Ptilotus
Ptilotus exaltatus 'Joey’ is a compact version growing 12 to 18 inches high and perfect for adding to mixed containers. Long-lasting 2- to 3-inch blooms start out silver and mature to neon pink at the tips.
Yellow Tails
Ptilous nobilis, commonly called yellow tails, offers soft, flowing flowers, typically more green than silver with a slight flush of pink.
Rose-Tipped Mulla Mulla
Ptilous manglesii is known as rose-tipped mulla mulla and bears attractive rose-color tipped flowers that are more rounded in shape than Ptilotus exaltatus.
Possum Tails
Ptilous spathulatus, often called possum tails, is used as a groundcover with yellow-green flowers on short prostrate stems.
Ptilotus Companion Plants
Angelonia
Angelonia (or summer snapdragon) is a spectacular addition for continuous color in any garden. Most angelonia plants grow upright with spires of flowers and deep green, glossy foliage. The flowers tend to appear in the blue/purple to white spectrum, and a few red varieties have popped up recently. A tough perennial, angelonia stands up against summer's heat and humidity with no problem, making it a hearty and colorful addition to any sunny spot. Perennial in Zones 9-11, grown as an annual elsewhere.
Scaevola
Scaevola, which is also commonly known as fan flower, bears abundant blue, pink, white, or purple blooms along fleshy, deep green stems. No matter what color you choose, the fans or petals sport a bright yellow-and-white center in asymmetrical blooms that attract pollinators and cover the plant throughout the growing season—which can last from early summer to first frost. Like ptilotus, scaevola comes from the arid Australian outback environment, so they have little problem dealing with summer heat and drought. Perennial in Zones 10-11, grown as an annual elsewhere.
Dusty Miller
Dusty miller is a favorite because it looks good with everything. The silvery-white color is a great foil for any type of garden blossom, and the fine-textured foliage creates a beautiful contrast against other shapes of green foliage. Dusty miller has also earned a place in the garden because it's delightfully easy to grow, withstanding heat and drought like a champion. Perennial in Zones 7-10, grown as an annual elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ptilotus an annual or perennial?
A perennial in its native Australia, ptilotus is generally grown as an annual in the United States. However, it will return each year in the warm USDA Zones 10-11. Even in its native range, ptilotus is a short-lived plant, living for about three years.
Do wildlife like ptilotus?
Ptilotus is attractive to bees and butterflies. Deer, however, leave it alone.
How do you pronounce ptilotus?
The first letter is silent, so you say “til-oh-tus.” The latin name ptilotus means “feathery” and exaltatus means “held aloft,” so it’s aptly named.
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