The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Wishbone flowersbring color and life to ashadier part of a garden.
Unlike many other annual flowers, these compact plants don’t mind growing in partial shade.
Wishbone Flower Care
Here are the basic steps to growing and caring for wishbone flowers.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If you live in a climate that has hot summers, pick a fairly shady location for your plants.
It will not thrive in full sun.
Soil
Wishbone flower prefers organically rich,loamy soilwith a slightly acidic to neutralsoil pH.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Excellent soil drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
To improve the soil quality, consider mixing in some compost at the time of planting.
Water
Wishbone flowers require moderate but consistent moisture.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Keep the soil moist, but check that the plants aren’t sitting in soggy soil.
They can tolerate cooler temperatures, though frost will kill the plants.
If the plant looks scraggly, feel free to shape it as you wish.
you’re able to prune this plant back to about half its overall height.
Propagating Wishbone Flowers
Propagate wishbone flowers through cuttings or seeds, which are both easy methods.
To propagate wishbone flowers with cuttings, take these steps.
Take these easy steps.
Choose containers of any material with plenty of drainage holes.
Use a soilless potting mix for the best drainage.
Pinch flowers for bushier growth in containers.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Wishbone flowers don’t have any major problems with pests or diseases.
They may also suffer fromroot rotif overwatered in pots.
Providing optimal growing conditions and good air circulation for the plants should help to prevent most problems.
Moreover, some common garden pests, includingaphidsandwhiteflies, will prey on wishbone flowers.
it’s possible for you to control these problems with insecticidal soap.
What Do Wishbone Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Wishbone flowers have irregular, multicolored tubular shapes and a subtle, sweet scent.
Petals are light blue with deeper purple lips and a yellow throat but those colors can vary.
The petals are shaped in such a way that they look like wishbones.
How to Encourage More Blooms
These flowers readily produce profusions of blooms if the conditions are right.
The biggest culprit of wishbone flowers not blooming is moisture.
This plant doesn’t like sitting in soggy soil and might not bloom if the soil is too wet.
Common Problems With Wishbone Flowers
This plant is extremely low-maintenance.
However, as with any plant, be on the lookout for signs it needs attention.
Looks Scraggly
If your wishbone flowers look scraggly, trim them back to about half their height.
They will grow back quickly with a new flush of flowers.
If you live in a very hot climate, these plants will need more shade than sun.
Also, confirm there is plenty of air circulation around these flowers.
Wishbone flowers prefer to grow in part sun to shade.
Wishbone flowers are annual plants that will be destroyed by the first frost.
Wishbone flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies and as an added benefit, the plants are deer-resistant.
