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Browallia speciosa Browallia, Amethyst Flower

Edward F. Gilman, Teresa Howe, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

Introduction

Browallia produces blue or white flowers over a long period of time. The plant prefers afternoon shade and has a height of 1 to 1½ feet. Over fertilization causes leaf growth at the expense of flower production. Browallia is suitable for hanging pots.

Full Form - Browallia speciose: Browallia, Amethyst Flower
Figure 1. Full Form - Browallia speciose: Browallia, Amethyst Flower
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Browallia speciosa

Pronunciation: bro-WAL-ee-uh spee-see-O-suh

Common name(s): browallia, amethyst flower

Family: Solanaceae

Plant type: annual

USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Figure 2)

Planting month for zone 7: Jun

Planting month for zone 8: May

Planting month for zone 9: Apr

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Mar; Sep; Oct; Nov

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: mass planting; container or above-ground planter; cut flowers; cascading down a wall

Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 2. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Credit: undefined

Description

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Plant habit: round

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: not applicable

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: not applicable

Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: blue; purple

Flower characteristic: showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: no fruit

Fruit length: no fruit

Fruit cover: no fruit

Fruit color: not applicable

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; loam

Drought tolerance:

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 6 to 12 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: not applicable

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

The seed germinates in two to three weeks at temperatures of 75°F. Do not cover the seed with soil. The plants can be pinched to encourage bushiness. Browallia needs to be hardened off before planting outside. In USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, plant in the fall for winter bloom.

Publication #FPS75

Release Date:July 26, 2022

Related Collections

Part of Shrubs Fact Sheets

Related Topics

  • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is FPS75, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised July 2022. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Teresa Howe, coordinator, Research Programs/Services, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; Ryan W. Klein; and Gail Hansen, Environmental Horticulture Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Gail Hansen de Chapman