These tips on growing calibrachoa will help you keep these powerhouses of color thriving all season.
Calibrachoa has only been available in the retail plant world since the early 1990s.
That’s not long in plant years, especially with how far the plant has come since then.
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Tuck it into thefront of a border, where it can spill out onto sidewalks or patios.
Use calibrachoa to fill gaps in arock gardenwith other colorful perennials.
It doesn’t typically get much taller than 4 inches.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Its spread draws attention: Some plants can extend over 2 feet of ground in no time.
Dig a hole the same depth and just a bit wider than your nursery pot.
Remove the plant from the pot and gently loosen the soil around the roots.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil or potting mix and firm around the plant.
Calibrachoa Care Tips
Calibrachoa plants bloomall summer longwhen their needs are met.
Light
Calibrachoas require from 6-8 hours of sun daily for the best blooms.
Credit: Graham Jimerson
They tolerate partial shade but produce fewer blooms.
Soil and Water
Use an all-purpose potting mix in containers or hanging baskets.
Calibrachoas do best in containers with good drainage.
Credit: Justin Hancock
When planted in beds outdoors, they benefit fromwell-draining soilthat has been amended with nutrients.
Fertilizer
Calibrachoas are heavy feeders and need regularapplications of fertilizerto support their continuous bloom period.
Add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil before planting, or apply a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Sensitive to low amounts of nitrogen, calibrachoa turns yellow when it needs to be fed.
Innovations
Recently, some interesting work has been done with calibrachoa plants.
‘Cabaret Hot Pink’ Calibrachoa
‘Cabaret Hot Pink’Calibrachoabears multitudes ofbright pink flowerson trailing stems to 8 inches.
Credit: Matthew Benson
‘Cabaret Purple Glow’ Calibrachoa
‘Cabaret Purple Glow’Calibrachoatrails to 8 inches andtolerates part shade.
It grows 12 inches wide.
‘Can-Can Mocha’ Calibrachoa
‘Can-Can Mocha’Calibrachoaoffers creamy flowers with a chocolate-purple throat.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It has a mounding-trailing habit and grows 15 inches tall and wide.
‘MiniFamous Compact Dark Red’ Calibrachoa
‘MiniFamous Compact Dark Red’Calibrachoaproducesrich red flowerson a compact 8-inch trailing plant.
‘Superbells Blue’ Calibrachoa
‘Superbells Blue’Calibrachoais a floriferous variety with loads ofviolet-blue flowerson trailing 8-inch stems.
Credit: Justin Hancock
This particular series showcases a cherry-colored backdrop.
‘Superbells Lavender’ Calibrachoa
‘Superbells Lavender ‘Calibrachoabears an abundance of lavender flowers on trailing 36-inch-long stems.
‘Superbells Peach’ Calibrachoa
‘Superbells Peach’Calibrachoaoffers salmon-orange blooms with a darker throat.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It holds up well to rainy weather and trails to 30 inches.
‘Superbells Saffron’ Calibrachoa
‘Superbells Saffron’Calibrachoabears yellow flowers with a red-orange throat.
It trails to 36 inches.
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
‘Superbells Tequila Sunrise’ Calibrachoa
‘Superbells Tequila Sunrise’Calibrachoaproduces a plethora oforange flowerswith yellow streaks.
This vigorous variety can trail to 30 inches.
It trails to 3 feet.
Credit: Justin Hancock
‘Superbells Yellow’ Calibrachoa
‘Superbells Yellow’Calibrachoafeatures large, clear yellow flowers and a low, trailing habit.
It trails to 30 inches.
‘Voodoo’ Calibrachoa
‘Voodoo’Calibrachoaproduces plum flowers with yellow streaks and flecks.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Each bloom is different.
It’s the perfect plant for adding bright color to hot, sunny spaces.
This tough plant blooms all summer long.
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
While its varieties are beautiful, the sweetly scented selections offer a bonus.
Most gardeners treat angelonia as an annual, but it’s a tough perennial in Zones 9-10.
Coral Bells
Exciting selections with incredible foliage patternsput coral bells on the map.
Credit: Justin Hancock
The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coralbells fine groundcover plants.
They enjoy humus-rich, moisture-retaining soil.
Beware of heaving in areas with very cold winters.
Credit: Jason Wilde
Zinnias
Zinnias are vigorous, fast-growing annual flowers that make beautiful additions to the garden.
They vary from tall, stately plants suitable for borders to dwarf varieties that work well in containers.
Plant them in full sun and provide consistent moisture.
Credit: Denny Schrock
This is a plus forlow-maintenance gardeners, as there’s no need to manually remove dead growth.
Calibrachoas are not classified as deer-resistant, but deer dont usually munch on them.
However, tobacco budworms are a different story; they happily dine on buds and petals.
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Calibrachoa is not toxic.
It is a safe plant to have in your garden in locations where children and pets play.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Justin Hancock
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Credit: Marty Baldwin
