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Nothing can compare to the vibrant color of a field of Annual Winecup, one of the few wildflowers that can actually outshine our favored Texas Bluebonnet. Thank goodness that they bloom at different times so we don’t actually have to make a choice on which one we like the most.
Callirhoe leiocarpa, or Annual Winecup, Cowboy Rose or Tall Poppy Mallow is an annual species that will grow from 1 to 3 feet high. It freely reseeds itself to insure repeated blooming in following seasons, so if you don’t won’t it to come back you can dead head after blooming.
This wildflower can be found growing in pastures, prairies, mesquite groves, live oak motts and along the sides of the highways that didn’t fall victim to our state mowing program, throughout Texas and up through Kansas. The leaves have a very distinctive scalloped look and are in an alternate pattern.
The flower has a dramatic color range from a reddish purple to fuchsia (my favorite) to a pink. Five brightly colored petals form the open cup shape of the flower which makes it particularly attractive to bees, butterflies and many other pollinators. Annual Winecup has a blooming period from late spring starting right about the time the Bluebonnets are ending and will continue to bloom until midsummer.
Even though Annual Winecup is an annual it develops a slender taproot that enables it to be drought tolerant and suitable for many xeriscaping projects.
One thing to keep in mind if using it in a landscape setting is its susceptibility to slugs. Slugs seem to love the new tender seedlings and can consume the whole planting in one night. Here on the farm we seed it directly outdoors in the field so we do not have the same problem with slugs as in a landscape setting because of the lack of suitable cover for the rascals during the day.
Annual Winecup doesn’t like to be disturbed after germinating because of the rapid development of the slender taproot, so it doesn’t lend itself to transplanting very easily. Sowing seed directly outside into well drained soil will yield the best results.
It thrives in dappled to part shade but does great in full sun in a wet year or with a little extra water. Really the only problem that I can see is that deer find it pretty tasty. Nevertheless I would still try some and if you want to plant it with a striking companion try Standing Cypress and or Prairie Verbena. You will be thrilled.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: znobia
