Gardening Flowers Annuals How to Plant and Grow Browallia Grow this beauty wherever you have a shady spot that needs some color. By Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani is a gardening and food writer with more than two decades of hands-on gardening experience in vegetable and fruit gardening, landscaping with native plants, and garden design. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 12, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Companion Plants FAQ Trending Videos Close this video player Browallia earns its nicknames of amethyst flower and sapphire flower because of its vibrant blue star-shaped blooms, which pop out like jewels against the plant’s bright green foliage. Most commonly found with sapphire blue flowers, browallia also comes with bright purple or pristine white blossoms. As a backdrop to these vibrant petals, the emerald green foliage forms a dense mat that lasts throughout the growing season. This heat-loving plant will bloom continuously throughout the growing season without deadheading. Plus, the flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Usually grown as an annual, browallia is actually a tropical perennial so you can bring it inside for the winter until the next spring. Browallia is toxic to dogs and cats. Browallia Overview Genus Name Browallia Common Name Browallia Plant Type Annual, Perennial Light Part Sun, Shade Height 8 to 24 inches Width 8 to 24 inches Flower Color Blue, Purple, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Fall Bloom, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 10, 11, 9 Propagation Seed Where to Plant Browallia Browallia is one of the few annuals that thrive in part shade to full shade. Plant it where the soil is rich in organic matter and well-drained, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It makes an eye-catching option to use in place of impatiens. A tidy mounding plant, it works well in containers or for edging the front of a border. How and When to Plant Browallia Plant browallia after all danger of frost has passed because even a light frost can damage the leaves. Dig a hole that is at least the size of the nursery pot or flat and has the same depth. Water the plants well in their pots and let them drain before placing them in the hole and backfilling with the original soil. Space the plants at least 9 inches apart. Browallia Care Tips Light The plant needs part shade to full shade conditions. In direct sunlight, the leaves are likely to burn. Soil and Water Browallia does best in organically rich, evenly moist soil so water regularly in the absence of rain. The ideal pH range is between 6.0 and 8. Browallia does not tolerate drought. Temperature and Humidity This is a tropical plant that thrives in heat and is not bothered by humid conditions. Cold weather, even a frost, kills the plant. Fertilizer A continuous bloomer like browallia needs to be fertilized occasionally throughout the growing season to support a continuous display of flowers. Use a complete balanced fertilizer about once a month, following product label directions. Pruning Pinching the growing tips helps to keep the plant bushy. Deadheading is not needed. If the plants start to thin out towards the end of the summer, gently shear them to encourage more new growth. Potting and Repotting Browallia Select a pot with large drainage holes and fill it with a combination of potting mix and compost or potting soil high in organic matter. You can plant browallia in its own 4-inch pot or in a larger mixed planter where it serves as a filler. Potted plants need more frequent watering and fertilization than inground plants. Unless you bring the plant inside before the first frost, the life cycle of browallia ends in the fall so it does not require repotting. Pests and Problems Browallia has no serious diseases or pests. You might find aphids, thrips, spider mites, leafhoppers, and whiteflies on the plants. If the numbers are small, they can often be washed away with a hose. Infestations can be treated with insecticidal soap. How to Propagate Browallia Growing this shade-lover from seed is a simple alternative to hunting for it at local garden centers. Start them indoors eight to 10 weeks prior to the frost-free date in your area by sowing seeds on top of the soil; they need sunlight to germinate. Keep the soil lightly moist. Seedlings will emerge in two to three weeks. Divide and plant them in individual pots once their true sets of leaves have emerged over the next few weeks. As soon as the threat of frost has passed, begin to harden off plants. Plant them outside once the seedlings have developed two sets of leaves and a robust root system. Types of Browallia Endless Illumination Browallia Dean Schoeppner Vibrant violet-blue star-shaped blossoms cover this hybrid plant from spring until frost. It grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads 10 to 14 inches. Endless Flirtation Browallia Justin Hancock This is another popular browallia hybrid with crisp white flowers that contrast beautifully with emerald green foliage. It is equal in size and trailing habit as Endless Illumination. Browallia speciosa ‘Blue Bells’ Commonly known as bush violet, this cultivar of Browallia speciosa is covered in blue star-shaped flowers with white eyes from early summer to early fall. Browallia Companion Plants Impatiens Peter Krumhardt What would we do without impatiens? It's the old reliable for shade gardens when you want eye-popping color all season long. The plants bloom in just about every color except true blue and are well suited to growing in containers or in the ground. If you have a bright spot indoors, you may be able to grow impatiens all year as an indoor plant. Sweet Potato Vine Peter Krumhardt Among the most popular container-garden plants, sweet potato vine is a vigorous grower that you can count on to make a big impact. Its colorful foliage, in shades of chartreuse or purple, accents just about any other plant. Grow a few together in a large pot, and they make a big impact all on their own. Sweet potato vines do best during the warm days of summer and prefer moist, well-drained soil. They thrive in sun or shade. Begonia Justin Hancock Talk about foolproof: Annual begonia is about as easy as it gets. It does well in a variety of conditions, but to keep it at its most luxuriant best, give it light shade; rich, well-drained soil; and ample water. It also loves plenty of fertilizer, so be generous. Plant annual begonias in spring after all danger of frost has passed. No need to deadhead this flower unless you want to, it's "self-cleaning!" Frequently Asked Questions Is browallia annual or perennial? In its native habitat in tropical South and Central America, it is a perennial, but it is grown as an annual by most gardeners. How do I overwinter browallia? You can overwinter the potted plant if you have a south-facing window in a room where the temperature is around 55 degrees F. This can be challenging to provide, often it is easier to start with the new plant in the spring. But if you have the right conditions for the plant to overwinter, bring it inside before the nighttime temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. Cut the plant back to a manageable size and keep it moist but not wet. Browallia will go dormant over the winter, so it needs less water. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. "Browallia viscosa." North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.