Scouler's Popcornflower Plant Care

Scouler's Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys scouleri) belongs to the Boraginaceae family within the Plagiobothrys genus. Scouler's Popcornflower is native to North America. Scouler's Popcornflower is also known as Water Witch, Water-witch.

Scouler's Popcornflower displays a low rosette, spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Scouler's Popcornflower produces small, tubular white or pink flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Scouler's Popcornflower every 3–5 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.

Scouler's Popcornflower thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Plagiobothrys scouleri tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Scouler's Popcornflower prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Scouler's Popcornflower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Scouler's Popcornflower 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 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.

Scouler's Popcornflower is suited to USDA Zone 4a – 10b.

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.

Scouler's Popcornflower 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.

Prune Scouler's Popcornflower 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.

Scouler's Popcornflower is hardy down to USDA zone 4a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Scouler's Popcornflower can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to figwort popcornflower plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Scouler's Popcornflower 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.

Scouler's Popcornflower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4a. Scouler's Popcornflower is native to North America.