All you need to know about Wishbone Flower (wishbone flower propagation, benefits, uses, and more)

Wishbone flower or Torenia Fournier is one of the effective and simple ways to bring life and a pop of colors to a shady part of the lawn. Native to Africa and tropical Asia, it is easy to plant from small cuttings and seeds. Therefore, wishbone flower propagation is simple and quick, unlike other annual flowers.

This annual shade plant transforms an unsightly area in your lawn into a center of bright colors and bountiful life. It thrives in crannies, nooks, and crannies of your lawn where light barely reaches.

 However, they like growing in the shade. To use them as indoor plants, they should be placed in colder regions with a shorter growing season and shorter daylight hours. Wishbone flower plant is a great choice to add a spectacular touch of color to their garden or indoors.

Quick Details of Wishbone flower plant

Other Common Names	Wishbone flower, bluewings, clown flower
Type	Annual flowering plant
Maintenance	Little maintenance and care
Flowering	Spring, Summer
Light	Partial shade (morning light and afternoon shade)
Water	Water when the soil feels dry to the touch
Temperature	70 to 75 degrees F during the day and 65 to 70 degrees F at night
Soil	Moist, well-drained soil
Fertilizer	Custom fertilizer that is high in phosphorus
Habitat	Asia and Africa
Toxicity	Non-toxic
Common Diseases	Powdery mildew, fungal diseases, and discoloration
Wishbone flower scientific name	Torenia fournieri

Wishbone flower plant buying instruction

• Torenia fournieri medicinal uses and benefits are beyond your expectations. To grow wishbone flowers, start seeds indoors a few weeks before the outdoor soil warms.
• Alternatively, buy small bedding plants from your nearby local garden center or nursery.
• An interesting fact about the wishbone plant lifespan: Since it has a short span of life period, growing its flowers from seeds is a bonus point.

Overview of Wishbone flower

The wishbone flower plant captures the gardener’s attention with its flowers, which will help add a bright touch to a dull space. Various colors and velvety touch make this ornamental plant the first choice of many homeowners. 

However, depending on the variety you plant, the results can be lavender, white, blue, or pink with yellow markings. Within each flower, a pair of slender stalks join together in a shape that looks like a wishbone.

The compact plant love to stay in partial shade. The Wishbone flower scientific name is Torenia Fournieri. It is commonly found in Africa and Asia and has a remarkably thriving period. Usually, it blooms in early summer and lasts until mid-fall or the first cold, whichever comes first. For those who wish to make a lawn or indoor space colorful and exciting with a wishbone plant, thus it is essential to understand wishbone flower propagation.

The plant grows about 11 inches high, while it reaches about 6 inches at full maturity. Once the flowers are in full bloom, butterflies and hummingbirds will be flocking to the lawn for a long time.

The more you get to know the wishbone flower benefits or wishbone flower uses, the more you will understand the value of the wide varieties with the color mix they provide. Below are some notable species you can grow in your lawns or indoors.

1. Catalina White Linen

This species grows to about 18 inches high and 12 inches across. It has white flowers with a yellow center. Since it can tolerate low light, you’ll need to grow it in partial shade or a location that doesn’t get direct sunlight.

2. Catalina Glided Grape

It is yellow with purple flowers. The plant grows to about 1 foot wide and 2 feet high with minimal care and maintenance. If grown in cool climates, it must be kept in full sun. For those who live in hot climates where the sun hits the garden all day, it is better to grow in full or partial shade.

3. Torenia Clown Mix

Not only does it have multicolored flowers, but this variety of wishbone flower plants also has a wide variety of color combinations, including white with pink, yellow, and purple with white. Place them in hanging pots and baskets to make the home space attractive.

4. Moon Yellow

Daisy-like with a yellow center and moon purple shape, this cultivar serves as an excellent groundcover. They do, however, have the advantage of planting well in both partial shade and sun.

5. Moon Purple

This variety grows to about 10 inches tall and produces violet-blue flowers. Due to being spread about 16 inches, it is an ideal choice for a hardy and colorful ground cover. During the hot zone, it should be planted in the full zone. In order for it to grow well, you need to keep the soil slightly acidic and moist.

6. Summer Wave

One of the excellent cultivators, summer wave, is well-known for its large-size flowers, available in a range of colors.

Wishbone flower benefits, medicinal uses, and advantages

This section will teach you about wishbone flower benefits, uses, and medicinal benefits. Let’s take a look:

1. Torenia fournieri medicinal uses

Wishbone flower propagation can offer you ample benefits, including medicinal advantages. In Ayurveda, a two-color variety of wishbone treats corneal infections and gonorrhea. A paste prepared from the plant, mixed with sandalwood, clove, and rosewood, can help treat exanthemata effectively. In addition, it is safe to ingest by garnishing drinks and dishes, as it is non-toxic.

2. Wishbone flower uses in the garden

Being a bushy annual plant, the wishbone is best for shady lawn areas, where it can provide a continuous shot of color throughout summer until the first frost. The mix of vibrant flowers in deep evergreen foliage makes a great addition to woodland gardens and hanging baskets. Hence, wishbone flower benefits comprise medicinal, beauty, and ornamental.

Wishbone flower growing and caring tips

The wishbone flower plant will continue to bloom from June until the first frost. It’s a bright flower happily dangling across your lawn for at least four months. Before starting wishbone flower propagation, understand what type of care it demands.

1. Soil

Wishbone flowers demand sandy and loamy soil. Unlike growing in the landscape, growing in a hanging basket or pot will require a general-purpose potting mix. Its shallow root doesn’t like wet soil, as it will likely cause root rot. So, before planting the seeds, test the pH level of the soil you’re going to add. To sum up, the wishbone needs moderate but constant moisture. Keep your plant away from soggy soil.

2. Water

You should water this annual plant sparingly if it is sitting in a shady spot all the time. If grown inside, check the soil more often because planters and pots lose moisture faster than soil in a lawn.

3. Sunlight

Most varieties of wishbone flowers do not like much light and prefer to grow in full shade. Excessive light can adversely affect the wishbone plant lifespan. Therefore when growing annuals in the backyard, choose an area that receives as little sun as possible. However, unlike other seasons, the summer sun occupies more space on the lawn. So, forget relying on a young tree to block the sun’s rays. Alternatively, grow them in the shade of a permanent structure such as a large, mature tree.

4. Temperature

Wishbone thrives in high temperatures, but direct sunlight should be avoided. Specifically, they demand air temperatures to be in the low 70s F during the day and high 60s F at night. Even a slight change in temperature at night will not harm the plants, but if there are continuous cold spells for a few days, the plants will appear distressed. This can result in curled and yellow leaves or flower drops.

5. Fertilizer

To witness the blooming and happy flowers of the wishbone, you must add rich soil to it. Soil rich in organic material helps your wishbones thrive. To give your plant a kick start, add an organic fertilizer to the soil before transplanting. If the results aren’t what you expected, feed them with a customized fertilizer high in phosphorus.

Pests and other problems for the Wishbone flower

There are no major bacterial or insect causes with wishbone flowers. But fungal diseases like powdery mildew can drastically affect your plant’s lifespan. This may end up with leaf damage, discoloration, etc. Let’s look at how to prevent pests and other problems that may befall your wishbone flower plant.

1. Leaf beetles

Beetles can cause stress on petals and leaves, which may result in a round, small holes scattered over the surface. To prevent serious cases, clean off all life stages of the insects.

2. Sagging after blooming

There are a number of reasons in which flowers wilt. First, there may be a rough texture that enables water to drain off too quickly, preventing the plant from taking up enough.

3. Other pests problem

Some common garden pests, including whiteflies and aphids, will prey on your annuals. Aphids may leave a sticky residue which indicates that these pests feed on plants. In the case of whitefly, you often notice tiny flying insects grow in a cloud when the plant is disturbed. Insecticidal soap can help prevent these issues.

Wishbone flower propagation

Your wishbone flower grows best from seed, even though it has a shorter life span. However, growing from seed has one major drawback, including that it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to germinate if conditions are unfavorable. So, always start with the full seed bag but don’t forget to thin the seedlings later. For wishbone flower propagation, see the below information.

To grow your wishbone flowers directly from seed, begin the seeds 6 to 8 weeks before your spot’s projected last frost date.

Important Note: The flowers don’t transplant well, so the seeds should begin in paper pots or peat that you can plant along with the seedlings. In cold climates, this plant can be direct sown in your preferred planting location, preferably outdoors anywhere up to 1 week before your last expected frost date.

As seeds need light to germinate, make sure the soil is not covered with seeds. Make sure the soil is warm and moist until the seeds germinate. 

To propagate wishbone flowers, use stem cuttings about 6 inches long. Place the cutting in water. And when it starts growing, plant the cutting in a paper pot or peat and keep the soil moist.

Frequently Asked Questions