Lil' Forest Plum Bachelor Button (Gomphrena 'SAKGOM004' LIL' FOREST PLUM)
gom-FREE-nah 'SAKGOM004' LIL' FOREST PLUM

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Amaranthaceae Family

Gomphrena 'Lil' Forest Plum' is a compact annual bedding plant prized for its abundant, spherical plum-purple flower heads, held above dark green foliage from early summer through frost. A patented Sakata Seed introduction (US Plant Patent 25,927), it forms a tidy, mounding habit 14 to 18 inches tall and 10 to 14 inches wide, making it a reliable choice for borders, edging, and containers.

Like other gomphrenas, its color actually comes from papery bracts rather than true petals -- the true flowers are tiny and insignificant -- which is why the flower heads hold their color so well even after being cut and dried.

Pros

  • Abundant, long-lasting plum-purple flower heads from summer to frost
  • Compact, tidy mounding habit suited to borders and containers
  • Drought tolerant once established and low maintenance
  • Flowers hold their color well when cut and dried

Cons

  • Tender annual; killed by the first hard frost
  • True flowers are tiny and insignificant -- color comes from papery bracts, not petals
  • Needs full sun to bloom well
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights A compact, patented Sakata introduction valued for its abundant plum-purple flower heads and tidy mounding habit from summer through frost.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 14 - 18 inches tall. 10 - 14 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 9a - 11b (Usually hardy to 20° F)
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, Full Sun, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Showy Flowers
Bloom Period June To Frost
Flower Color Purple

Photos of This with...

Vermillionaire Firecracker Plant, Lil' Forest Plum Bachelor Button, Bright Lights Yellow African Daisy,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 05/17
2024 : 02/08 - 05/18
2023 : 03/02 - 05/21

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!