Wishbone flower

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. In cool climates it tolerates more sun if kept moist; avoid strong afternoon sun in hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Check containers daily in hot weather; prolonged drying quickly causes wilting and poor flowering.

Soil

Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Use a good-quality container potting mix in pots.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Flowers

Summer to the first frost; typically violet-blue flowers with darker lower lips, pale throats and yellow markings. Garden selections also come in pink, purple and white.

Foliage

Soft green, oval leaves with pointed tips and toothed edges, carried in opposite pairs.

Growth

Fast; reaches flowering size in one growing season.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant out after frost danger has passed and nights are consistently warm; space plants about 6-12 in (15-30 cm) apart.
• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry, before the root ball dries out.
• Work compost into beds before planting, and keep drainage holes clear in containers.
• Feed container plants every two to four weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate.
• Apply a thin organic mulch around bedding plants, keeping it away from the stems.

Pruning. Pinch young shoot tips if plants need encouragement to branch. During summer, lightly trim stretched or straggly stems just above a leaf pair; routine deadheading is usually unnecessary.

Late winter

Start seed indoors about 8-10 weeks before your expected last frost, with warmth and good light.

Spring

Prepare beds with compost or fill containers with fresh potting mix.

Late spring

Harden off young plants and plant outside once frost danger has passed and nights are warm.

Summer

Keep roots evenly moist, feed containers regularly and check leaf undersides for pests.

Late summer

Lightly trim leggy plants and water well to encourage fresh growth.

Autumn

Remove plants after frost kills them, or when flowering finishes in frost-free gardens.

• Edge lightly shaded paths with a low line of flowers.
• Fill window boxes and patio containers that receive morning sun rather than intense afternoon heat.
• Plant beneath open-canopied shrubs where there is enough light and irrigation, avoiding dense, dry root competition.
• Combine with begonias, impatiens and ferns for contrasting flowers and foliage in a summer shade display.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Woodland, Modern courtyard, Small-space, Blues and silvers and Tropical.

Plant it with: Wax begonia, Impatiens, Coleus, Caladium, Japanese painted fern and Fuchsia.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, including bumblebees. It is not a major host plant for garden wildlife.

• Wilting and scorched leaves: check soil moisture and move containers out of strong afternoon sun; water thoroughly without leaving pots standing in water.
• Root rot: improve drainage, empty saucers and avoid constantly saturated compost; discard badly rotted plants.
• Aphids or whiteflies: inspect tender shoots and leaf undersides, rinse off small infestations and use insecticidal soap labelled for the pest if needed.
• Powdery mildew: improve spacing and airflow, remove heavily affected leaves and avoid letting plants become drought-stressed.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is generally recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental rather than a food plant, and eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

• Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)

  Impatiens has flatter flowers with a slender rear spur; wishbone flower has a more obvious tubular, two-lipped flower with contrasting throat markings.

• Yellow monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata)

  Its flowers are usually yellow with reddish throat spots, and it favours much wetter ground. Wishbone flower is usually violet-blue and has paired stamens that form a wishbone shape inside the flower.

The common name refers to the paired stamens inside the flower, which join to form a shape resembling a wishbone.

Propagation. Sow seed on the surface of moist seed compost because light helps germination. Keep at about 70-75°F (21-24°C), moist but not saturated; seedlings commonly appear in one to three weeks. Named selections may not come true from seed and can be propagated from soft stem cuttings.

Accepted botanical name

Torenia fournieri

Native range

Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, India, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.