Description
Torenia – Wishbone Flower
There are 40-50 erect to spreading, bushy, sometimes softly hairy annuals and perennials in the snap dragon family, in this genus. They naturally occur in woodlands, at altitudes up to 10,000′ feet in tropical Asia and Africa. They are grown for their short, showy, terminal or axillary racemes of tubular then trumpet, 2 lipped flowers, the upper lips slightly 2 lobed, the lower ones markedly 3 lobed, produce in summer. The opposite leaves are mostly oval or lance shaped, and may be smooth edged or toothed. T. fournieri is the most commonly cultivated species used for summer bedding, or grow at the front of an annual or mixed border.
Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in partial shade. Pinch out growing shoots of young plants to encourage a bushy habit.
Prone to root rot, gray mold (Botrytis), and powdery mildew.
T. fournieri – Bluewings – This rapidly growing annual from tropical Asia reaches 12″ tall and 6-9″ wide. It produces long stalked, pointed, ovate to elliptical, toothed, pale to dark green leaves, 1 ½-2″ long. In summer, produces abundant lilac blue, pansy-like flowers, to 1 ½” long, the lower lips deep purple and the throats marked yellow.
Zones 12-13
