Nicandra
apple-of-Peru, shoo-fly plant

- Height 4-8 ft (120-250 cm)
- Planting distance 3-4 ft (90-120 cm)
- Flowers early to late summer
- Deep, moist, rich soil
- Sunny site
- Half-hardy annual

If you're looking for an unusual plant to fill a gap in a border, Nicandra physalodes is worth considering. It is a vigorous plant, easily grown and robust, with branching growth reaching 4-8 ft (120-240 cm). It has lush mid-green toothed leaves, small but pretty lilac-blue bell-shaped flowers, and fruits enclosed in attractive green lanternlike calyxes. Another benefit is its supposed ability to repel flies, giving it the common name "shoo-fly plant." The flowers appear from early to late summer, though they open only for a few hours at midday. Expect the fruits to form between late summer and midfall; when dried, they are suitable for winter decoration.

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Annuals
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Biennials