This old-fashioned cottage garden plant is a favorite for its impressive, abundant clusters of flowers that dangle from the tips of its tall stems. A native of China, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate was popular in the early 1800s but fell out of favor as compact blooms became the fashion. In recent years, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate has seen a resurgence in popularity, often being found in heirloom plant catalogs. Generally, you can plant it once, and it will reseed for years to come.
With its long chains of pink blossoms, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate adds a romantic touch to any garden. Often beginning to bloom in midsummer, this annual will continue to bloom until fall. It's a favorite cut flower and can be dried and used in floral arrangements. You can find varieties in dark pink and occasionally white. While not the main reason for growing kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, its large, coarse-textured foliage can create a backdrop for other plants. This fast-growing plant can also grow to 7 feet tall and can be used as a quick screen when grown densely in groups.
Kiss-Me-Over-The-Garden-Gate Overview
Where to Plant Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is a pretty annual that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. It grows best in full sun (at least 6 hours a day), but can handle partial shade as long as it gets at least a few hours of direct sunlight. Its height makes it perfect for the centerpiece of a cottage or pollinator garden and—as its common name implies—it looks beautiful when planted against a picket fence or at the edge of a garden gate.
How and When to Plant Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate does not transplant well, so seedlings are not often found in nurseries, but you can sow seeds directly in the ground in the fall or late winter or after a periodof stratification in the spring. If starting in the spring, chill your seeds in a sealed bag or container in the refrigerator for approximately 4 to 6 weeks before either starting indoors or direct-sowing after the last frost date.
When you are ready, fill biodegradable pots with sterile potting mix and sow the seeds just slightly below the surface of the soil (2 seeds per 2-inch pot). Make sure you choose pots that you can plant in the garden as kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants have brittle roots that will not tolerate being transplanted. Mist the soil and place the pots in a plastic bag to germinate in a location that stays approximately 70 degrees. Water the seeds only if the soil begins to dry out.
Once the seeds begin to germinate (about 1 to 2 weeks), remove the plastic bag and place the pots in an area that receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day. Once your seedlings start producing leaves, thin them by pinching the weakest of the two seedlings off at the soil level. Your plantable pots can be put into the ground after the danger of frost has passed. If you are planting more than one, place them approximately 18 to 24 inches apart.
Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate Care Tips
Even with its impressive height, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate does not require staking. It also does not require deadheading and will continue to bloom throughout the growing season without slowing down. Be sure to keep in mind that any flowers kept on plants will reseed in the garden and grace you with their presence for years to come.
Light
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is best grown in full sun. Exposing your plants to at least 6 hours of full sun each day will help your plants remain sturdy and prevent them from flopping. This will also help to encourage more flowers and the densest foliage. Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate can also be grown in partial shade (with a minimum of 2 hours of full sun), but in these conditions, your plants may be more sparse and less sturdy.
Soil and Water
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate will achieve the most-impressive growth in fertile, well-drained soil. It can also tolerate poor soil if it is not too wet.
Your kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants will need regular watering to keep blooming, especially as the weather warms. During the hottest months, plan to water them more than once per week, but check the soil first to see that it remains moist but not wet. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
Temperature and Humidity
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate fares best in temperatures approximately 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate humidity. It is not frost tolerant.
Fertilizer
Most experts suggest you don’t fertilize kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants as they prefer soils with modest fertility. Fertilization can lead to uninhabitable soil conditions that may cause yellowing, wilting, and under-developed blooms.
Pruning
Since kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is an annual plant, it does not require much pruning, but you can remove yellowing leaves to improve the look of the plant. Deadheading is also not required to keep the plant in blooms all season, but you can prevent self-seeding by removing the blooms before they fade. At the end of the growth cycle, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants will die to the ground, and you can clear the dead plants.
Pests and Problems
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is not plagued by many pests, but Japanese beetles and leaf beetles may munch on the foliage.
Overwatering or overly humid conditions could cause issues with mildew, mold, and rot. Check the soil before you water and make sure to plant your kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate plants at least 18 to 24 inches apart so they have adequate air circulation.
How to Propagate Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate
If you are interested in growing kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, it is best to start plants from seed. This is a fairly easy process but there is one thing to keep in mind: kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate seeds require stratification to germinate. This means providing seeds with several weeks of cold to simulate winter and help break their dormancy. One of the easiest ways to do this is to allow them to experience a natural winter by sowing seeds in the fall where you would like them to grow the following year. You can also give them a simulated winter by storing seeds in the refrigerator or freezer for 4 to 6 weeks. After the seeds have gone through their chilling process, plant them (two each) in 2-inch biodegradable pots to germinate. Once they begin to sprout, it is best to thin them out because each plant will become quite tall and large.
Types of Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate
'Cerise Pearls' Persicaria Orientalis
Persicaria Orientalis 'Cerise Pearls' is a dwarf variety of kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate that only grows about 3 or 4 feet tall. It features lush foliage and eye-catching tassel-like reddish-pink flowers that bloom from July to October. This hardy annual prefers full sun and is happy in almost any kind of soil.
‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’ Persicaria Orientalis
‘Shiro-gane Nishiki’ kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is another relatively new, relatively rare cultivar that features soft pink (almost lavender) flowers that bloom from late summer until early frost (typically October). It has broad green variegated leaves splotched with cream and prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun.
Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate Companion Plants
Spider Flower
It's amazing that the tall, dramatic spider flower (also known as Cleome hassleriana) is an annual. Once temperatures warm up, it zooms to 4 feet or more very quickly and produces large balls of flowers with fascinating long seedpods that whirl out from it. Cut it for vases, but be aware that the flowers shatter easily after a few days. It self-seeds prolifically, so you only have to plant it once. Because it develops surprisingly large thorns, it's best to keep spider flower away from walkways. Plant established seedlings in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Cleome does best in moderately rich, well-drained soil and should be grouped in clusters of 6 or more for the best effect.
Moonflower
Moonflower (a.k.a., Datura) bears large trumpet-shaped flowers—some sweetly fragrant—that unfurl in the evening (or on overcast days) and stay open until the sun rises. This beautiful plant is heat- and drought-resistant but considered quite toxic (especially the seeds), so keep that in mind when planting. Plant moonflower outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and give it moderate moisture and fertilizer. Like kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, moonflower reseeds freely to the point of being invasive in some conditions.
Castor Bean
Plant a castor bean and then stand back. Also highly toxic, this is one of the fastest-growing, giant annuals in the garden, rivaled only perhaps by giant sunflowers. By midsummer, you'll have a huge (it can hit up to 20 feet) tropical plant sporting burgundy foliage. Just wait to plant it outdoors until after all danger of frost has passed. Castor bean hates cool weather and won't grow well until temperatures heat up in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate blooms be used for bouquets?Yes! Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate flowers can add gorgeous mass and height to floral bouquets. They also dry beautifully for crafts and year-round arrangements. To extend the life of your blooms, snip the flowers when they are only half to 3/4 open.
Yes! Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate flowers can add gorgeous mass and height to floral bouquets. They also dry beautifully for crafts and year-round arrangements. To extend the life of your blooms, snip the flowers when they are only half to 3/4 open.
- Is kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate considered invasive?Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is not officially classified as invasive in any state, but due to its self-seeding habit, it can be considered "weedy". Plucking the flowers before they fade and not allowing spent blooms to set seed can keep the plant in check. You can also pull volunteer plants in the spring as they emerge to prevent them from reaching maturity.
Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate is not officially classified as invasive in any state, but due to its self-seeding habit, it can be considered "weedy". Plucking the flowers before they fade and not allowing spent blooms to set seed can keep the plant in check. You can also pull volunteer plants in the spring as they emerge to prevent them from reaching maturity.