The true blue blooms of this heat-loving plant keep coming all summer long.
This is a low-growing, spreading plant that works well as a colorful seasonal filler in garden beds.
It also looks great cascading down a wall or a raised bed.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
For the same reason, it is a popular choice for containers and hanging baskets.
Plant ittogether with geraniums in a containerfor a simple but stunning blue-and-red combination.
Dig a hole at least the size of the nursery pot or flat with the same depth.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Space the plants 2 to 2.5 feet apart.
Sun also helps maintain a compact shape and pretty silver-colored foliage.
It does not tolerate wet soil, which kills the plant.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Temperature and Humidity
Evolvulus needs warm weather.
It flowers best in temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and thrives in the summer heat and tolerates humidity.
As a tropical plant, it is highly sensitive to even light frost.
Credit: Andy Lyons
Fertilizer
Because evolvulus grows so rapidly, it needsmonthly fertilizationduring the spring and summer.
Apply a general-purpose liquid fertilizer according to the label directions.
Pruning
When the plant is young, prune it back a bit to encourage branching.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Giving the growing tips a pinch every now and then can also help encourage a nice, bushy plant.
At this point, cut back the plant to help encourage a fresh new flush of growth.
This will also help plants rebloom and make them look a bit tidier.
Evolvulus has the benefit of being self-cleaning, sodeadheadingis unnecessary.
Plastic or metal pots dry out less rapidly than terra-cotta and other porous materials.
Remember, though, thatpotted volvulusdoes need more frequent watering and fertilization than inground plants.
Pests and Problems
The plant has no known serious insect or disease problems.
Therefore, rootingstem cuttingsis a more reliable method of propagating evolvulus.
In the summer, cut 3- to 5-inch tips from healthy stems.
Dip the cut end inrooting hormonepowder.
Fill a 4-inch container with a damp potting mix and insert the cutting about 2 inches deep.
Water the plant moderately to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
It grows 12 inches tall and spreads up to 16 inches.
Hawaiian Blue Eyes Evolvulus
The flowers of this popular cultivar are slightly bell-shaped.
New flowers appear daily throughout the growing season.
The low-growing plant spreads 2 to 3 feet wide.
French marigolds tend to be frilly, and some boast a distinctive “crested eye.”
They do best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and will flower all summer long.
They may reseed, returning year after year in spots where they’re happy.
Or use it in containersit’s a great medium-height plant to tie together taller and cascading plants visually.
Though it’s usually grown as an annual, nierembergia is perennial in Zones 7 to 10.
Tweedia
If you love blue flowers,tweediais for you.
Tweedia produces beautiful turquoise blooms all season on grayish, felted foliage.
The fragrant five-petal flowers make great cut flowers, complimenting any bouquet.
A short vine growing 2 to 3 feet fall, tweedia will twine around short trellises or other supports.
(Try a shrubby branch cutting inserted into the soil for naturalistic support.)
Frequently Asked Questions
The plant only overwinters outdoors in zones 9 to 11.
