Color in the shade
Browallia blooms all summer long
GROWING SUMMER ANNUAL flowers is one of the most popular parts of gardening. Perhaps it is the lure of months of colorful flowers that motivates us. There are lots of choices when selecting annuals for sunny locations, but far fewer options for shady spots.
If you are looking for something besides a begonia or impatiens that will thrive and flower in the shade, consider planting Browallia, the bush violet. Appropriate for containers, ground beds and even as a houseplant, Browallia doesn’t skip a beat when planted and blooms constantly until fall.
Two great choices are Browallia Endless Illumination with its blue to purple flowers and Browallia Endless Flirtation with its white flowers. This mounding annual can grow 12 to 16 inches tall. Some varieties can grow to 2 feet tall. All are heat tolerant, thrive in a wide variety of soils and don’t require much fertilization to keep flowering.
The abundant star-like tubular flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. Bush violet has no serious disease or insect issues, but is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
It performs best with about four hours of sunlight and protection from the afternoon sun. Other varieties of bush violet are also available, but all are blue, purple, lavender or white. They can be planted alone or mixed with other shade-tolerant annuals for a beautiful summer display.
