Plant DetailShow Menu

Torenia fournieri is often confused with:
Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum majus
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Browallia speciosa Browallia speciosa
Catharanthus roseus close up of 2 pink, pinwheel flowers with dark pink eyes.
Impatiens walleriana Impatiens walleriana

Wishbone Flower Torenia fournieri

Phonetic Spelling
toh-RAY-nee-ah for-nee-AY-ree
Description

Wishbone flower is a low-growing annual with lovely two-tone lilac-purple flowers. It prefers part sun to shade, especially in hot summer climates. Plant in rich moist soils and mulch to help keep the roots cool. They can also be brought inside for the winter. 

Use this plant in a container,  hanging basket or the front of the shade border. Pinch them back to retain a bushier shape.  There are many varieties and cultivars to extend the color choice.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Catolina Pink'
'Catolina Pink'
Tags:
#purple#violet#white flowers#shade garden#fall interest#hanging baskets#summer flowers#border planting#fantz#partial shade tolerant#container plant#annual
 
Form
Form Cerlin Ng CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Flowers
Flowers Roopesh M P CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Form
Form Cerlin Ng CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Stem with bloom
Stem with bloom Jeevan Jose, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaves
Leaves David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0
Torenia fournieri
Flower Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Torenia fournieri
Flower and Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Torenia fournieri
'Catolina Pink' Flower Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Torenia fournieri
'Catolina Pink' Flower and Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Catolina Pink'
'Catolina Pink'
Tags:
#purple#violet#white flowers#shade garden#fall interest#hanging baskets#summer flowers#border planting#fantz#partial shade tolerant#container plant#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Torenia
    Species:
    fournieri
    Family:
    Linderniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruit
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Description:
    2-lipped tubular flower. Blooms are 2-toned in violets and blues with a yellow patch at the throat. 2 stamens join at the anthers in a wishbone shape.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Up to 3-inch long oval light green leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Green stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Design Feature:
    Border