Browallia

( broh - WAL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Also called Amethyst flower, this genus contains both annuals and perennials native to a wide range from Arizona in the United States down through Bolivia. Regular waterings are recommended for best performance. Flower color varies from blue to violet to white, and blooms are most profuse in warm, shady areas that receive filtered sun. They are commonly used as cut flowers in fresh arrangements. These plants do well in mixed beds and borders, in containers, or in hanging baskets. Take care when planting Browallia flowers in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Browalia Species and Varietals

The small genus Browallia includes seven species, and is a member of the plant family Solanaceae. It is named after Johannes Browallius (Johan Browall), a botanist and physician from Sweden. Browallia is closely related to the monotypic genus Streptosolen, the singular species of which is commonly called Orange Browallia. Browalia growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Browallia americana (Browallia elata) (Jamaican Forget-Me-Not, Amethyst Flower, Bush Violet, No-Me-Olvidas, Chavelita de Monte)
This species is grown as an annual in all zones. It has a branching habit and reaches 1-2 feet tall and just as wide at maturity, with green leaves. Flowers are violet or blue and bloom amongst foliage. Forms vary widely in this species.

Browallia spp. Hybrids and Varieties
These plants reach about 1 foot tall and wide, and come in a variety of flower colors. Cultivars include 'Endless Flirtation' (with white blooms, pictured), 'Endless Celebration' (with purple-tinted white flowers), 'Endless Illumination' (with purple blooms), and 'Endless Sensation' (with lavender-blue flowers). 'Troll' series Browalias are best in containers, and the 'Bell' series do well in hanging baskets. Best in USDA zones 10-11, or in any zone as an annual.

Browallia speciosa (Amethyst Flower, Bush Violet, Blue Bells, Sky Flower)
This species is treated as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10-11 or Sunset growing zones 17, 23, 24, H1 and H2, and as an annual in all other zones. This plant has a sprawling habit, and grows to 1-2 feet tall and 1 foot wide at maturity. Blooms are dark purple on top and pale lilac underneath. Varieties that grow to 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide include 'Bell Blue' (with lilac-blue flowers), 'Bell Marine' (with magenta purple flowers), and 'Bell Silver' (with white flowers).

Caring for Browallia

Take care when planting Browallia flowers in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Plant Browallia flowers in partial shade to full shade in an area of the garden that is somewhat protected. These are tropical plants, and do not like drying winds. Ensure that soil is well-draining and rich in organic material before planting. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Browallia prefers a soil pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. After planting, mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. To boost foliage and bloom during the active growing months, a dressing of organic compost can be applied each year in springtime. Pull back mulch before applying compost, and then work the compost into the soil before replacing the mulch again. Protect plants from frost conditions using frost cloth or by physically moving plants to a warmer location, like a greenhouse, over the winter months. Deadhead flowers as they fade, and pinch back plants as they grow to keep them looking full. At the end of summertime, they can be gently sheared to encourage more new growth and flowers to emerge.

Harvesting Browallia
Browallia, or Amethyst Flower, is widely used as a cut flower to add simple color to mixed bouquets. Foliage is also used to add greenery to bouquets and fresh arrangements. To harvest cut flowers, make sure to cultivate a variety that has longer stems than the shorter garden ornamentals. Good species to cultivate for their cut flowers include Browallia americana and Browallia speciosa. They are in bloom from late spring through the first frost of the year in most growing zones. The best time to harvest Browallia flowers is in the morning, after the dew dries from leaves but before the heat of the day sets in. Make cuts at the base of stems with sharp, clean garden shears or snips. Drop cut stems in cool water immediately. Ageratum flowers have a vase life of between 5 and 10 days.

Propagation

Browallia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Browallia, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Browallia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 4-6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Browallia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. Cut flowering heads off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. Browallia seeds are very small, so they will need to be contained.
Between 6 and 8 weeks before the last frost of your area, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds on the soil surface . Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.