Wishbone Flowers

Uses:

  • Adds Color to Shady Areas
  • Hanging Baskets or Windowboxes
  • Spiller in Containers

Features:

  • Cascading Trumpet-Shaped Flowers
  • No Deadheading Required
  • Attracts Birds & Hummingbirds

Sunlight:

  • Full Shade to Full Sun
  • Can Grow In Most Sunlight Conditions
  • Can Also Grow As A Houseplant!

Wishbone flowers typically are grown for their burst of summer color in garden beds or containers. The plants can grow in any sunlight condition, even as a houseplant or in very shady areas outdoors!

Wishbone Flowers 1 to 8 of 8 total

  • Catalina Midnight Blue Wishbone Flower Flowers and Foliage Close Up

    (4)

    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Catalina® Midnight Blue Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Catalina Grape-o-Licious Wishbone Flower blooming

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Catalina® Grape-o-Licious Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Catalina Pink Wishbone Flower in Hanging Basket

    (3)

    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Catalina® Pink Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Summer Wave® Large Violet Wishbone Flower in Decorative Patio Tabletop Planter
    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Summer Wave® Large Violet Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Catalina Gilded Grape Wishbone Flower Flowers and Foliage

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Catalina® Gilded Grape Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Summer Wave Large Amethyst Wishbone Flower bloom

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Summer Wave® Large Amethyst Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Catalina White Linen Wishbone Flower Plant Flowering in Planter
    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Catalina® White Linen Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
  • Summer Wave Large Blue Wishbone Flower closeup
    Sold Out

    (5)

    Growing Zones: 10 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Summer Wave® Large Blue Wishbone Flower

    $15.74
Wishbone Flowers 1 to 8 of 8 total

Why Buy Wishbone Flowers Online?

Wishbone flowers (Torenia hybrids) are charming little plants with snapdragon-like flowers and named for the wishbone-like shape of the delicate stamens inside the flowers’ center. The flowers can be yellow, pink, and ranges of purple, and typically bloom from June until the first frost. These plants are usually grown as annuals and can add filler color before container grasses or evergreen shrubs. As an added bonus, wishbone flowers attract birds and hummingbirds but resist deer damage

Check Icon

Container filler

Check Icon

Hanging baskets

Check Icon

Available in 6 colors

Check Icon

Typically 8 - 16 inches tall; 8 - 10 inches wide

Check Icon

Winter hardy in growing zones 10 to 11

About Wishbone Flowers

Genus
Species
Family
Torenia
Fournieri
Linderniaceae

Common Names:

Torenia, Clown Flower, Bluewings


Native To:

Southeast Asia, India, Africa

Plant Type:

Annuals

Foliage Type:

Semi-Evergreen, Deciduous, Herbaceous

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

10 - 11

Flower Color:

Purple, blue, pink, white

Flower Bloom Time:

Late spring to fall

Growth Habit:

Clumping, Spreading, Mounded, Trailing

Attracts:

Bees, Butterflies

Tolerates:

Heat, Humidity

Resists:

Deer, Rabbits, Voles, Moles, Diseases, Pests

How To Use Wishbone Flowers In The Garden

Wishbone flowers feature petite, trumpet-shaped blooms in an array of colors and a distinctive pair of joined stamens resembling a tiny wishbone. It tolerates summer heat better than many other partial-shade flowers, delivering nonstop color from late spring until the first frosts. Hummingbirds and other pollinators enjoy frequent visits, drawn to the accessible nectar. Dense foliage and self-cleaning flowers minimize upkeep, making it easy for beginners or busy gardeners.

Cluster these compact plants around the front of a shaded border or tuck them into hanging baskets where their trailing stems spill over the edges. Since these flowers can handle a range of light conditions, you can position the hanging basket nearly anywhere on a deck or patio. Place them near ferns, impatiens, or hostas for a lively arrangement of complementary shapes. Consider more modern containers if you want a simpler design alongside silver-foliaged companions.

Wishbone Flowers Care

Plant wishbone flowers in a lightly shaded spot with morning light and afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. If using clay soil, improve drainage with amendments so the roots don't linger in soggy conditions. Maintain even moisture without letting water stagnate, and add a balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks if the plant is in a container. In garden beds, a slow-release product at planting time can sustain it throughout the season.

Trim lanky stems to encourage bushier growth, though heavy pruning is rarely necessary. Overwinter indoors in frost-prone climates, either by lifting rooted cuttings or relocating container-grown plants. If you keep them in pots, select free-draining potting mixes and water consistently during hot stretches. For early spring replacements, you can start seeds indoors before transferring outside.

Summer Wave Large Blue Wishbone Flower Closeup

Wishbone Flower Companion Plants

Wishbone flowers grow well with other plants that can endure both sun and shade and fill hanging baskets. They also can go in containers with other plants that double as houseplants, such as caladium.