Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Grass
  
Origin
Hybrid origin
  
Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Madagascar
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dry areas, Semi desert
  
Grassland, Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-11
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-5
  
12 - 8
  
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Purple, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender
  
Burgundy, Pink, Rose
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Light Pink, Tan, White
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
Needs less watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires little pruning, Requires very little pruning
  
No need to prune, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
  
Disease free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Heat Tolerance
  
Drought, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Bog Garden, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
  
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
X CHITALPA tashkentensis
  
MELINIS nerviglumis
  
Common Name
Chitalpa
  
Ruby Grass, Zizka
  
In Hindi
Chitalpa संयंत्र
  
Zizka
  
In German
Chitalpa Pflanze
  
Zizka
  
In French
plante Chitalpa
  
Zizka
  
In Spanish
planta Chitalpa
  
Zizka
  
In Greek
φυτό Chitalpa
  
Zizka
  
In Portuguese
planta Chitalpa
  
Zizka
  
In Polish
Chitalpa roślin
  
Zizka
  
In Latin
Chitalpa herba
  
Žižka
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Poales
  
Family
Bignoniaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Chitalpa
  
Melinis
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available