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Browallia
Browallia speciosa
Browallia blooms from June through September.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Browallia
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 10–11. Expect it to reach about 1.1 ft tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Browallia
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Browallia into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from June to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 10 in January.
Comes in 2 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Browallia
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
In the nightshade family. NC State flags it as toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, though ASPCA does not list it; keep it away from pets. per NC State and ASPCA
Worth knowing
Not just a throwaway annual: cut it back, pot it and bring it indoors for winter bloom in a bright, warm spot. It is really a tender perennial. per NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden
How much sun it needs
Sources split: national listings allow full sun to part shade, but Illinois warns too much sun scorches leaves in hot regions. Part shade, morning sun with afternoon shade, is safest. per NC State and Illinois
Blooms in shade
One of the better flowering annuals for shade: it does well in part to full shade, so it is a go-to for shady beds, borders and hanging baskets. per NC State
Pinch for a fuller plant
Pinch back the tips of young plants to force branching and a bushier, fuller habit with more flowers, and deadhead spent blooms to keep it flowering into fall. per NC State
Draws hummingbirds and butterflies
Its long summer-to-frost bloom draws hummingbirds and butterflies for steady nectar, though it is a garden ornamental rather than a keystone bee plant. per NC State and Royal Society
Sap-feeders under glass
No serious diseases, but sap-feeders (aphids, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites) trouble it under glass and indoors; scout leaf undersides and knock them back with water sprays. per NC State and UC Statewide IPM
What pairs well with Browallia
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Azalea
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Primrose
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Virginia Bluebells
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; echoes the blue.
Solomon's Seal
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; a soft color beside the blue.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Witch Hazel
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; stands well above at 9.8 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Pansy
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; opens in early spring and overlaps into this one's season; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; purple sits close to blue on the wheel.
Northern Sea Oats
Shares part shade and moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it; orange against blue, for contrast.
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Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.