Venus Looking-glass Plant Care

Venus Looking-glass (Specularia speculum) belongs to the Campanulaceae family within the Specularia genus. Venus Looking-glass is native to the Mediterranean region. Venus Looking-glass is also known as Mirror Bellflower, Venus's Looking-glass.

Venus Looking-glass displays a low rosette, spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Venus Looking-glass produces small, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, pink, or white.

Leaf size: approximately 1.5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Venus Looking-glass every 5–7 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.

Venus Looking-glass thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Specularia speculum tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Venus Looking-glass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Venus Looking-glass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Venus Looking-glass 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, loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Venus Looking-glass 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.

Venus Looking-glass 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 Venus Looking-glass 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.

Venus Looking-glass 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.

Venus Looking-glass can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps.

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

Venus Looking-glass is susceptible to aphids, snails, slugs. 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.

Venus Looking-glass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Venus Looking-glass is native to the Mediterranean region. In cooler regions, grow Venus Looking-glass as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.