Whorled Eyebright Plant Care

Whorled Eyebright (Euphrasia cuneata) belongs to the Orobanchaceae family within the Euphrasia genus. Whorled Eyebright is native to New Zealand.

Whorled Eyebright displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Whorled Eyebright produces small, delicate flowers in shades of purple, white, or yellow.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Whorled Eyebright every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Whorled Eyebright thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Euphrasia cuneata tolerates temperatures of 60–75°F. Whorled Eyebright prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Whorled Eyebright to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Whorled Eyebright every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Whorled Eyebright is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Whorled Eyebright can spread to about 1 ft (0.2 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Whorled Eyebright while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Whorled Eyebright is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Whorled Eyebright can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to wood eyebright plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Whorled Eyebright is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Whorled Eyebright grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Whorled Eyebright is native to New Zealand. In cooler regions, grow Whorled Eyebright as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.