Growing Guide
 
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Browallia

Annual Flower, Houseplant

Also known as Bush Violet , Sapphire Flower, Lovely Browallia, Amethyst Flower
Browallia speciosa
Solanaceae Family

A true shade lover, Browallia charms the darkest corners of the garden with its deep green foliage and dainty white, blue or purple flowers.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • part shade
  • full shade
Prefers warm weather, but requires protection from the hot sun.

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
  • tolerates damp soil

Special locations:

  • outdoor containers
  • xeriscapes
  • indoors as a houseplant - It can be brought indoors for the winter as a houseplant. Indoors, it should be grown in diffused sunlight and kept moist but not wet.
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-summer
  • late summer

Flower color:

  • blue
  • violet
  • white

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: cushion, mound or clump

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - South America and Caribbean
Attracts:
  • hummingbirds
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before last frost. The seeds require light to germinate.

Germination temperature: 70 F to 75 F

Days to emergence: 7 to 21

Maintenance and care:
Pinch back to keep bushy

More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Varieties
When choosing varieties, look for different colors and plant sizes. Some varieties grow just 10 inches tall.

�Bell� Series�: trailing plants with star shaped flowers in shades of white, purple, and blue. Good for hanging baskets.

�Starlight� Series: day neutrals. Compact, dense plants with flowers in shades of white, blue, and purple.

�Troll� Series: dense, rounded, compact plants that are excellent for containers. Flowers in shades of white, purple and blue.