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Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa blooms from May through October.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Calibrachoa
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 9–11. Expect it to reach about 8 in tall and 16 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year (not yet checked).
No toxicity note is on file for Calibrachoa. That is not a clearance: check its safety for people and pets before planting.
What was checked
Mature height and spread, 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, and each fact above says which. The planting, spacing and size sections are derived from these checked facts by a fixed rule, not checked separately, and the plant type is the library's own classification.
When to plant Calibrachoa
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Calibrachoa into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from May to October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar; if you garden near zone 9, the middle of this plant's hardy range, start with zone 9 in February. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Calibrachoa get?
8 intall5 ft 7 inan adult16 inwideSee Calibrachoa in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Calibrachoa
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Calibrachoa about 16 in apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Calibrachoa to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Where these facts come from
Calibrachoa's height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags were checked against 10 published sources on July 29, 2026. Each one is linked below with every fact it carried, which can include a fact this page still marks as not yet checked, because a source carrying a value is not the same as the value being held to the standard. Facts not in that list, and the planting, spacing and size sections, are not covered by these sources.
- gardencrossings.comGarden Crossings (Superbells Evening Star)height, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Missouri Botanical GardenCalibrachoa groupheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Missouri Botanical GardenCalibrachoa 'Sunbelkist' MILLION BELLS TERRA COTTAheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- NC State ExtensionCalibrachoa x hybridaheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Proven WinnersSuperbells Cherry Starheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Proven WinnersSuperbells Double Amberheight, spread, hardiness zones and sun
- suntoryflowers.comSuntory Flowers (MILLION BELLS MOUNDING Terra Cotta)height, spread and sun
- suntoryflowers.comSuntory Flowers (MILLION BELLS TRAILING Blue)height, spread and sun
- University of Minnesota Extensionheight, spread and sun
- Clemson Home and Garden Information CenterClemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Centerhardiness zones and sun
How the checking works, and what each standard covers, is on the verified plants page.
Comes in 11 varieties across 7 colors
Same genus, similar care - pick the color you are growing.
- Superbells Blackcurrant Punch
- Superbells Blue
- Superbells Cherry Star
- Superbells Coralina
- Superbells Grape Punch
- Superbells Lemon Slice
- Superbells Pink
- Superbells Red
- Superbells Tangerine Punch
- Superbells White
- Superbells Yellow
Compare every variety in the Calibrachoa group
Every figure is the variety's own page fact. Tap a name to open it.
| Variety | Color | Blooms | Hardiness | Sun | Size (H × W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calibrachoathis page | Orange | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Blackcurrant Punch | Purple | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Blue | Purple | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Cherry Star | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Coralina | Orange | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Grape Punch | Purple | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Lemon Slice | Yellow | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Pink | Pink | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Red | Red | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Tangerine Punch | Orange | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells White | White | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
| Superbells Yellow | Yellow | May–Oct | Zones 9–11 | Full sun | 8 in × 16 in |
Good to know about Calibrachoa
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Worth knowing
New leaves that yellow between the veins have two causes: it is iron-inefficient, so high pH starves it of iron, and a heavy feeder, so underfeeding yellows it too. per Minnesota and Michigan State
Full sun or afternoon shade
Full sun gives the heaviest bloom, but Clemson says in hot-summer regions light afternoon shade eases heat stress with little flower loss. In cool regions, give it maximum sun. per NC State and Clemson
Treat it as an annual
NC State lists it hardy in zones 7a to 11b as a tender perennial, but it reliably returns only in nearly frost-free zones 9 to 11. Elsewhere, replant each spring. per NC State and Clemson
No deadheading needed
It is self-cleaning: it drops its own spent blooms and keeps flowering without deadheading, a real low-maintenance edge over petunias. per NC State and Clemson
Overwatering is the main killer
Overwatering and poor drainage cause root and stem rot, the main way the plant is lost. Use fast-draining mix and let the surface dry slightly between waterings. per NC State and Minnesota
Draws hummingbirds
Its long season of small nectar bells draws hummingbirds, but no source documented meaningful bee or butterfly visits, so its pollinator value is modest. per NC State
Built for containers
A low, trailing plant smothered all season in small bell flowers; it shines as a container and hanging-basket spiller. Skip heavy garden beds and clay. per Minnesota and Clemson
What pairs well with Calibrachoa
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.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Globe Thistle
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; stands well above at 5 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; opens in early spring and overlaps into this one's season; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Winterberry
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; overlaps, then carries the display into early winter; stands well above at 6.5 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; both offer pollinator forage.
Viburnum
Shares full sun and moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; stands well above at 6.5 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its white flowers settle the orange.
Witch Hazel
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; stands well above at 10 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Little Bluestem
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; blue against orange, for contrast.
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