This perennial plant is easy to grow from seeds. It can be started indoors in winter, 6-10 weeks before the last frost, and then transplanted outside in spring. Alternatively, it can be directly sown into the ground in spring, summer, or fall. Its huge pendulous flowers are showy and last throughout the summer. These flowers are highly valued and praised for their 2-foot stalks and ball-shaped appearance. They are also excellent as cut flowers, with a long vase life of up to 8 days, and even longer when preservatives are added to the water. If left on the plant, the blooms will last up to 2 months. This plant prefers morning sun and afternoon shade.