Purple toadflax in September: monthly care

Vlasleeuwenbek thrives in full sun or partial shade and tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils, including loam, sandy, and chalky types. It's particularly happy in lighter, free-draining ground and will struggle in heavy clay that stays wet. Choose a spot where it can self-seed freely if you want a naturalistic effect, or somewhere you can easily remove unwanted seedlings. Plant container-grown plants in March, April, or May for establishment before summer, or in September and October to take advantage of autumn rains and give roots time to settle before winter. Space plants 30 cm apart to allow for their upright, clumping habit and 30–45 cm spread at maturity. Prepare the soil by removing weeds and digging in a little garden compost or grit if drainage is poor, but avoid over-enriching the ground—vlasleeuwenbek performs best in moderately fertile conditions and can become floppy in overly rich soil. Dig a planting hole slightly larger than the root ball, set the plant at the same depth it sat in its pot, and firm the soil gently around the roots. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. A light mulch of gravel or grit around the base helps suppress weeds and improves drainage at the crown, which is especially useful on heavier soils. Avoid organic mulches that retain too much moisture. Newly planted vlasleeuwenbek needs regular watering for the first few weeks, but once established it is quite drought-tolerant and requires little fuss.