Browallia
Browallia speciosa
Browallia, or bush violet, is a shade-tolerant annual covered in star-shaped blue, violet, or white flowers. It is one of the best flowering plants for adding cool color to shady spots and containers.
- Light
- Part shade to bright indirect light
- Water
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Browallia is a tender plant grown for its abundant five-petaled, star-shaped flowers in shades of blue, violet, and white. Unlike many flowering annuals, it blooms well in part shade, making it valuable for difficult low-light areas.
Native to tropical South America, it is grown as a warm-season annual outdoors or as a houseplant in cooler climates.
Its mounding to slightly trailing habit and continuous flowering make it ideal for shady borders, hanging baskets, and window boxes.
How to identify it
- Habit: Bushy, mounding to slightly trailing, usually 8-15 in tall.
- Flowers: Star-shaped, five-lobed flowers about 1-2 in across in blue, violet-purple, or white, often with a paler throat.
- Leaves: Soft, oval to lance-shaped, medium-green leaves.
- Bloom: Long flowering season from summer into fall.
- Texture: Slightly fuzzy stems and foliage.
Care & growing
Light: Part shade or bright indirect light; tolerates more shade than most flowering annuals and dislikes harsh midday sun.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist; avoid drying out and waterlogging.
Soil: Rich, well-drained soil or quality potting mix.
Temperature: Warm-season plant sensitive to frost; bring indoors in cold climates.
Feeding: Regular light feeding keeps container plants blooming.
Propagation: From seed started indoors or from cuttings. Pinch young plants to encourage bushiness, and deadhead to prolong bloom.
Habitat & origin
Native to tropical South America, including Colombia, where it grows in warm, partly shaded habitats.
Grown worldwide as a tender annual for shady gardens and containers, and as a flowering houseplant in temperate regions where it cannot survive winter outdoors.
Uses & benefits
Ornamental: One of the most reliable flowering plants for shade, excellent in containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and shady border fronts.
Indoor color: Makes a good flowering houseplant in a bright, indirectly lit spot.
Design: Its cool blues and violets pair well with other shade lovers such as impatiens and begonias.
Frequently asked questions
Will browallia grow in shade?
Yes, it is one of the best flowering annuals for part shade, blooming reliably where many sun-lovers would not.
Is browallia an annual or perennial?
It is a tender perennial grown as a warm-season annual in most climates; it can be overwintered indoors as a houseplant.
Why are the flowers fading?
Too much hot direct sun or dry soil stresses the plant. Give it dappled light, steady moisture, and deadhead spent blooms.
Is browallia toxic?
It is generally considered non-toxic, but as with any plant it is best not to let pets or children eat it.
Browallia guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Browallia.
