Bush Violet (Amethyst Flower, Lovely Browallia)
Browallia speciosa. SOLANACEAE.
Planting and Growing Bush Violet
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow bush violet in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of bush violet
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for bush violet
- Season of bloom and planting time for bush violet
- When, how deep, and where to plant bush violet
- How to plant bush violet
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of bush violet
- Landscape and container uses of bush violet
- Comments about bush violet and its features
Growing Bush Violet
Many cultivars of mounding, rounded, shrublike deciduous perennial herbs, to 2 ft. (60 cm) tall. Hairy, light green, narrow, oval, pointed leaves, to 2–1/2-in. (63-mm) long.
Common cultivars include Browallia speciosa ‘Blue Bells’, ‘Heavenly Blue’, ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Major’, and ‘Starlight’.
Amethyst browallia, Browallia americana (formerly Browallia elata), is a closely related annual species with branching habit and similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many bright blue, violet, white, petunia-like, 5-petaled flowers, to 2 in. (50 mm) wide, with contrasting white centers, in late spring–summer.
Best Climates
Tender. Plant as tender annual, zones 4–8; ground hardy, zones 9–11. Best in hot, humid climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring, after soil warms, zones 4–9; autumn, zones 10–11, in partial to full shade, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart. Tolerates full sun if soil is cooled by mulch and frequent watering.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp. Mist foliage occasionally. Avoid fertilizing. Pinch growth buds to encourage bushiness. Propagate by cuttings, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for hanging baskets, beds, borders, containers, window boxes in country, shade gardens. Good for cutting. Pest and disease resistant.