Grow winecup in full sun and soil that drains. Winecup is Callirhoe, also called purple poppy mallow. Clarkia winecup is a different plant.
Give it full sun, soil that drains, and little extra water after the first year
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Full sun, at least six hours a day | Do not grow it in shade, where bloom thins |
| Water | Water through the first growing season; after that, little extra water | Do not keep the crown wet once the plant is established |
| Soil | Sandy, rocky, or loam that drains after rain; clay is fine if it is not a puddle | Do not plant it in a low wet pocket, especially through winter |
| Drought | Once the taproot is down, skip extra irrigation | Do not run a sprinkler on the crown in summer heat |
Winecup is a prairie plant with a deep taproot. Give it open sun and a mix that dries after rain, then water a new plant through the first year so that taproot can go down. After that, extra water is the main reason the crown rots. [1] [2] winecup wants that same sun and drainage. Bush's poppy mallow takes a little more shade — pick the kind on Types of Winecup.
Does winecup need full sun?
Yes. Give it at least six hours of direct sun. Shade thins the bloom.
How often should I water winecup?
Water a new plant through the first growing season. After that, give it little extra water. Do not keep the crown wet.
Deadhead the cups, then cut old stems back in late winter
Pick spent flowers if you want a longer bloom, then cut the old trailing stems back to the crown in late winter, before new growth starts.
- Pick spent cups before they set seed if you want the plant to keep blooming. Leave a few heads if you want seedlings nearby. [3]
- In a hot, dry stretch the foliage can thin or rest. Wait for new leaves after rain. Do not soak the crown to force growth.
- In late winter, cut the old stems back to the crown. Do not dig the crown thinking the plant died. New stems push from that taproot in spring. [4]
Do I deadhead winecup?
You can pick spent flowers before they set seed if you want a longer bloom. Leave some heads if you want seedlings nearby.
Not Clarkia winecup — and not a hollyhock
Clarkia winecup is Clarkia, a cool-season annual — see How to Grow Clarkia. Winecup here is Callirhoe, a taprooted prairie perennial with magenta cups. Hollyhocks are Alcea — see How to Grow Hollyhocks. Those are tall stalks. Garden mallow is Malva — see How to Grow Mallow. Tree mallow is How to Grow Tree Mallow. Globemallow is How to Grow Globemallow. A tag that says French hollyhock or high mallow is not this plant. Confirm the Latin on the tag.
Is winecup the same as Clarkia?
No. Garden winecup is Callirhoe, a prairie perennial. Clarkia winecup is a cool-season annual. They are not interchangeable.
If the crown turns soft, cut the extra water and keep the soil draining.
FAQ
Can I grow winecup in a pot?
A hanging basket can hold trailing stems for a short display, but the taproot wants open, draining ground. Do not leave the pot in a saucer of water.
Will it go dormant in summer?
In a hot, dry stretch the foliage can thin or rest, then new leaves come after rain. That is not a reason to soak the crown.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/callirhoe-involucrata/ - [2] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/winecups-callirhoe-involucrata/ - [3] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cain2 - [4] Central Texas Gardener -
https://www.centraltexasgardener.org/resource/winecup/
This note is part of Callirhoe Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors