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Torenia fournieri 'Clown Series': Classic Wishbone Flower for Shade Gardens

Wishbone Flower: Shade-Loving Annual with Vibrant Blooms

Torenia fournieri, commonly known as wishbone flower, is a small, bushy annual prized for its prolific blooming in shady conditions. The species features lilac-blue flowers with deep purple lower lips and yellow-blotched throats, while cultivars in the Clown Series offer a rainbow of colors including pink, rose, white, and burgundy.

Plant Overview

Height: 6 to 12 inches
Spread: 6 to 12 inches
Growth Habit: Spreading
Light: Part shade only
Moisture: Medium, consistently moist rich soil
Maintenance: Moderate
Bloom Time: Early summer to late summer
Flower Colors: Purple, yellow (species); various in cultivars
Uses: Edging, containers, indoor winter bloom

Growing & Care

Provide consistently moist, rich soil in partial shade. Pinch young plants to encourage bushier growth. Avoid hot, humid weather. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost at 64°F, or direct-sow just before last frost. Generally pest-free but susceptible to root rot and powdery mildew if overwatered.

Other: Growing Lobelia in Containers: Sun, Shade, Water, and Feeding Guide; Hollyhock (Alcea rosea): Tall, Classic Cottage Garden Biennial with Colorful Spikes; Stars of Persia (Allium christophii): Huge, Metallic Fuchsia Spheres for Early Summer; Drumstick Allium (Allium sphaerocephalon): Color-Changing Blooms for the Summer Garden; Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia): Heat-Loving Summer Bloomer for Containers; Torenia 'SUNrenilabu' (Summer Wave® Blue): Heat-Tolerant Wishbone Flower; Growing Swiss Chard: Colorful Greens for Summer and Beyond; Growing Lettuce: Diverse Salad Greens for Cool Seasons; Torenia 'Summer Wave Deep Violet': Heat-Tolerant Shade Bloomer; Growing Summer Squash: Varieties, Planting, and Harvest Tips

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