Wishbone Flower
Torenia fournieri
Wishbone Flower 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 Wishbone Flower
Plant it in part shade. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 10–11. Expect it to reach about 10 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Wishbone Flower
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Wishbone Flower 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 5 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Wishbone Flower
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
The name comes from two stamens inside each bloom that join in a wishbone shape. They are not just decorative: an entering bee brushes against them during pollination. per Clemson and Frontiers in Plant Science
Does it love heat?
Sources split: it is a warmth-loving tropical, yet Missouri Botanical Garden says it dislikes intense heat. The truth: it wants warmth with shade and steady moisture, not dry sun. per Missouri Botanical Garden and IFAS
Upright or trailing habit
Two habits sell. Upright bedding types stay compact, about 0.15 to 0.25 m tall and wide; trailing types reach similar height but spill 0.3 to 0.75 m wide in baskets. per Clemson and IFAS
A top shade annual
One of the best flowering annuals for shade, blooming in part to full shade. Gardeners often use it as a stand-in for impatiens in shady beds and baskets. per NC State
No deadheading needed
The spent flowers drop on their own and it reblooms without deadheading, a big part of its low-maintenance appeal. Pinch young plants once for bushier growth. per Clemson
No toxicity reported
It does not appear on the ASPCA toxic or non-toxic list and carries no NC State poison rating, so no source flags it as poisonous to pets or people. per ASPCA and NC State
Powdery mildew in humid shade
The humidity, crowding, and shade that make it bloom also favor powdery mildew. Space plants for air flow, water at the base, and remove infected leaves early. per UMass and Missouri Botanical Garden
What pairs well with Wishbone Flower
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; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; stands well above at 6.6 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Bergenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 1.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Gardenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate to high water; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Northern Sea Oats
Shares part shade and moderate water; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; orange against blue, for contrast.
Hellebore
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 1.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Virginia Bluebells
Shares part shade and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; taller at 1.6 ft, for the layer behind it; echoes the blue.
Christmas Fern
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 1.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
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