Spanish Flag Care
Spanish flag grows well in well-drained soil where it receives at least 8 hours of bright sunlight a day. Like its close relative morning glory, Spanish flag seeds have a tough outer layer. Help seeds break through their hard coat by soaking them in warm water for a few hours or overnight prior to sowing. Even with soaking, Spanish flag seeds are slow to germinate, requiring up three weeks in consistently warm soil. Because it is slow to start, Spanish flag doesn’t usually begin blooming until August or later. Give plants a jump start on the growing season by starting seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last average spring frost date in your Zone. Once seeds emerge and the air temperatures are regularly above 70° F, Spanish flag will begin to grow with gusto. Expect the delicate yet vigorous vines to grow 18 feet or more over the course of a season so they’ll need a sturdy trellis, arbor, or fence to scramble up. Spanish flag is a favorite food source of hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Limit the use of insecticides and herbicides in your landscape to promote these winged visitors. Enjoy them up close by planting Spanish flag near a porch, deck, or patio. Want to invite visitors to your garden? Learn how to create a polinator garden.
