How to Grow Browallia

Browallia is an annual flower originating from and native to Central America and Northern Peru. It comes in several striking colors that add beauty to any garden, deck or porch. Its name comes from the Swedish botanist, bishop and physician, Johannes Browallius who lived in the early to mid 1700's.

Browallia is a member of the Solanaceae family or nightshade family, which includes toxic as well as agricultural plants such as potatoes and tomatoes, and flowers like Angel's Trumpet and Lycianthes. It is also known as the amethyst and sapphire flower, depending on its species, because of its deep blue flowers that strikingly stand out against its bright green foliage. This a great plant to use in containers, gardens, and as edging gardens, walkways, driveways or at the edge of small wooded areas.

How to Plant and Grow Browallia

Seeds can be sown indoors eight weeks before the last frost of the season. Click here to read about growing plants from seeds. The seeds take 15 to 25 days to germinate, and should be spaced six to ten inches apart when transplanted outdoors. Browallia loves partial shade and rich, organic, well-drained soil that is kept moist. A little compost added during the planting will help it grow, and mulch around the plant will help keep the soil moist. It needs a moist soil during the hot, dry summer months, so be sure to check it often and water as needed. The plant is only hardy to Zone 8A, preferring warm climates, so it needs to be used as an annual in less warmer zones.

TIP: Plants vary in size from 12 to 24 inches, so when planting seeds outdoors, be sure to space seeds of the larger plants farther apart, about ten inches.

The blue and deep purple flowers should appear midsummer and last until early fall. Some varieties of Browallia can reach heights of 24 inches, but most will be about 12 inches. Some varieties are amethyst, which has deep purple flowers one-inch in diameter; blue bells, which have one and one-half inch star-shaped violet-blue flowers; and marine bells, which also have star-shaped flowers that are indigo-blue in color. The colors are striking due in part to its two-inch dark green leaves.

Anyone who loves blue flowers will want one or all varieties of this beautiful plant in their yard or garden, or displayed in pot on their deck or porch.

Source: Personal Experience, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds