Growing Guide
 
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Torenia

Annual Flower, Houseplant

Also known as Wishbone Flower
Torenia fournieri
Scrophulariaceae Family

This annual features colorful, Gloxinia-like flowers in shades of pink, white and purple. Plants bloom prolifically into the fall and have an almost dwarf-shrub-like form. It gets its common name Wishbone Flower from its two stamens, which touch at the top to form a wishbone shape.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • part shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers moist, well-drained soil.

Special locations:

  • indoors as a houseplant
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 0.66 to 1 feet

Spread: 0.5 to 0.75 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-summer
  • late summer
  • early fall
  • mid-fall

Flower color:

  • yellow
  • violet
  • white
  • pink

Flowers are two-lipped and have a spot of yellow on the lower lip.

Foliage color: dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to Asia and Africa.
Attracts:
  • hummingbirds
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost. Do not cover the seeds, as light aids germiantion.

Germination temperature: 70 F to 75 F

Days to emergence: 7 to 17

Maintenance and care:
Pinch the plants back to keep them bushy.

More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Varieties
�Clown Mix�: 8� tall plants with bicolor flowers in pink and white, lilac and white, and purple and white. The lower lips have a yellow spot.