Wishbone Flower Plant Care
Torenia fournieri Linden ex E.Fourn.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Torenia fournieri, the bluewings or wishbone flower, is an annual plant in the Linderniaceae, with blue, white, or pink flowers that have yellow markings. It is typically grown as a landscape annual, reaching 12–15 in.
Partial shade to full shade
At a glance
How do you care for Wishbone Flower?
Wishbone Flower grows best in partial shade to full shade.
What Is the Wishbone Flower?
Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri) belongs to the Linderniaceae family within the Torenia genus. Wishbone Flower is also known as Bluewings, Pincushion Flower.
Wishbone Flower displays a low spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Wishbone Flower produces small trumpet-shaped flowers in various colors.
What Light Does the Wishbone Flower Need?
Wishbone Flower thrives in partial shade to full shade. Avoid placing Wishbone Flower in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wishbone Flower?
Moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Wishbone Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Wishbone Flower?
Repot annually in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Wishbone Flower?
Wishbone Flower can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to torenia bicolor plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Wishbone Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Wishbone Flower, 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 Wishbone Flower?
Wishbone Flower 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.
Keep exploring plants
Wishbone Flower 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 Torenia genus — compare its care with other Torenia species on PlantoScan.
Torenia is part of the Linderniaceae plant family — browse all Linderniaceae genera and species.
Wishbone Flower copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Torenia fournieri Linden ex E.Fourn., family Linderniaceae (first published in Ill. Hort. 23: 129, t. 249 (1876)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Wishbone Flower, 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.
- 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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