Honey Navarretia Plant Care
Navarretia mellita Greene
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Navarretia mellita is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name honeyscented pincushionplant.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Honey Navarretia?
Plant Honey Navarretia in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–10 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C).
What Is the Honey Navarretia?
Honey Navarretia (Navarretia mellita) belongs to the Polemoniaceae family within the Navarretia genus.
Honey Navarretia displays a low-growing mat-forming growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Honey Navarretia produces small colorful tubular flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Honey Navarretia?
Water a young or newly planted Honey Navarretia 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.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Honey Navarretia Need?
Honey Navarretia thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Honey Navarretia Prefer?
Navarretia mellita tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Honey Navarretia prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Honey Navarretia?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Honey Navarretia to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Honey Navarretia?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Honey Navarretia is suited to USDA Zone 12a.
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.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Honey Navarretia?
Honey Navarretia can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 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.
How Do You Prune a Honey Navarretia?
Prune Honey Navarretia 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.
How Do You Care for a Honey Navarretia in Winter?
Honey Navarretia is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.
How Do You Propagate a Honey Navarretia?
Honey Navarretia can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to pine-brush plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Honey Navarretia Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Honey Navarretia, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Honey Navarretia?
Honey Navarretia 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.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Honey Navarretia Need?
Honey Navarretia grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Honey Navarretia as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Honey Navarretia is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Navarretia genus — compare its care with other Navarretia species on PlantoScan.
Navarretia is part of the Polemoniaceae plant family — browse all Polemoniaceae genera and species.
Honey Navarretia thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Navarretia Species
Other Navarretia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Navarretia mellita Greene, family Polemoniaceae (first published in Pittonia 1: 134 (1887)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Honey Navarretia, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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