The straight blue blooms of this heat - loving flora keep coming all summer long .
A heating plant - make love plant life , evolvulus thrives in the middle of a hot summer and continue to ingrain all the manner through downfall . One of the most remarkable characteristics of evolvulus is that its flowers come in one of the most tough colors in the horticultural world : a lustrous , true blue .
With its showy blue flower held against argent - green foliage , this plant thrive in a garden bed as a low - grow , drouth - tolerant groundcoveror in a container . A close congener of morning glory ( yet not toxic ) , the flowers lean to have a few of the same quirks , including close down up at the end of the day and re - open up the following break of day .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Where to Plant Evolvulus
Full Lord’s Day is a must to get the most flush out of your evolvulus . In terms of soil grain and sour , the plant life is quite adaptable , but excellent drain is a must .
This is a low - growing , spreading works that works well as a colourful seasonal makeweight in garden seam . It also look great cascade down a bulwark or a evoke bed . For the same reasonableness , it is a democratic alternative for container and attend baskets . set ittogether with geranium in a containerfor a simple but stunning blue - and - cherry-red combining .
How and When to Plant Evolvulus
Potted evolulus , commonlyavailable as annualsat nurseries and garden center , are plant in the fountain after all danger of frost has passed . turn over a kettle of fish at least the size of the nursery mint or flat with the same depth . piss the plants well in their pot and allow them drain before localize them in the hole and backfilling with the original soil . Space the plants 2 to 2.5 foot apart .
Evolvulus Care Tips
Light
To get the most color out of your evolvulus , be sure to plant it infull sunto encourage uninterrupted efflorescence throughout the season . Sun also helps hold a compact shape and pretty silver - colored foliation . If planted in too much shade , evolvulus will often take on a sprawl appearance , flower less frequently , and misplace some of thesilvery sheenthat give its foliage so attractive .
Soil and Water
This tender perennial performs advantageously inwell - drained soilthat is somewhat acidic to slightly alkaline ( pH between 6.0 and 7.2 ) . Its drought - tolerant nature makes it a great option for neglected expanse of the garden or even for container that might receive infrequent water . It does not support stiff ground , which kills the works .
Temperature and Humidity
Evolvulus needs warm weather condition . It flowers best in temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and thrives in the summer heat and digest humidness . As a tropical plant , it is extremely sensitive to even loose frost .
Fertilizer
Because evolvulus grows so rapidly , it needsmonthly fertilizationduring the leaping and summertime . Apply a general - purpose fluid fertilizer allot to the recording label directions .
Pruning
When the plant is young , trim it back a routine to encourage branch . Giving the rise tip a tweak every now and then can also aid encourage a nice , shaggy-haired flora . As the summer progresses , evolvulus may start to appear a bit tired and leggy , and blooming may slow down . At this point , cut back the plant to help encourage a refreshing new thrill of growing . This will also help plant rebloom and make them look a bit tidier .
Evolvulus has the benefit of being self - clean , sodeadheadingis unnecessary .
Potting and Repotting Evolvulus
Select a 1 - gallon pot with with child drainage holes and fill it with a well - draining potting intermixture . Plastic or metal toilet dry out less rapidly than terra - cotta and other porous material . Still , the latter has the advantage of wicking away moisture , so there is less risk of root rot in the showcase of overwatering , which volvulus does not like . recall , though , thatpotted volvulusdoes need more frequent lacrimation and fertilization than inground plants .
Because it is usually grown as an annual and give way with the first frost , evolvulus does not require repotting .
Pests and Problems
The plant has no have sex serious insect or disease problem .
How to Propagate Evolvulus
The common evolvulus varieties are all cultivars , and their seeds wo n’t produce industrial plant that are true to their parents . Therefore , rootingstem cuttingsis a more reliable method of propagating evolvulus .
In the summer , cut 3- to 5 - column inch tips from intelligent stems . Strip off the leave-taking from the bottom third of the cut , as well as any flowers and flower bud . Dip the cut closing inrooting hormonepowder . occupy a 4 - column inch container with a moist potting mix and tuck the cutting about 2 in deep . rate the pot indoors where the temperature is systematically around 65 stage F and with bright indirect light but not direct sunlight . you’re able to to boot cover the pot with a clear plastic bag , which prevents the soil from drying out tight and create a humid environment for the cutting .
Water the plant moderately to keep the soil evenly moist but not quaggy . After several calendar week , you should see new growth , and the cutting should not wiggle when you gently push on it . stay produce the press clipping in the batch indoors until the next bounce , then plant it in the landscape painting or a magnanimous mess after all danger of icing has passed .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Types of Evolvulus
‘Blue Daze’ Evolvulus
Evolvulus’Blue Daze ' provide bigger blue flowers than the common mannequin and has somewhat hairy gray - green foliage .
‘Blue My Mind' Evolvulus
This cultivar , with tag silvery - green leaf , digest out by its uttermost heating plant tolerance , constitute it the good choice for tender clime . It grows 12 inch tall and spreads up to 16 inches .
‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’ Evolvulus
The blossom of this popular cultivar are slightly gong - shaped . fresh flowers appear daily throughout the grow season . The low - rise flora overspread 2 to 3 base full .
Evolvulus Companion Plants
French Marigold
Just as you ’d look from something call French , these marigoldsare the fancy ones . French marigold tend to be frilly , and some boast a classifiable " crested eye . " They grow roughly 8 to 12 in in high spirits with a chic , neat , little ontogeny wont and elegant dark green foliage . They do best in full sun with moist , well - drained soil and will blossom all summer long . They may reseed , return year after year in daub where they ’re happy .
Nierembergia
The adorable cup - shaped flower ofnierembergiaand its neat growth drug abuse make it a utile annual flower for everything from containers to edging . Plant it in rows along the front of beds or borders for a crisp feeling ( especially with the white type ) . Or use it in containers — it ’s a capital medium - height plant to tie together taller and cascading plants visually . Though it ’s commonly rise as an yearly , nierembergia is perennial in Zones 7 to 10 .
Tweedia
If you love blue prime , tweediais for you . Tweedia produce beautiful turquoise blooms all season on grey , felted leaf . The fragrant five - petal flowers make great cut peak , complimenting any bouquet . A short vine growing 2 to 3 feet pin , tweedia will enlace around poor trellises or other supports . ( adjudicate a shrubby branch disregard slip in into the grease for naturalistic support . )
Frequently Asked Questions
The plant only overwinters outdoors in zones 9 to 11 . If you hold up in a suitable clime to acquire evolvulus as a perennial , do not fertilize it during the wintertime . The beneficial way to winter it in cooler climate is not by contribute the plant indoors when the first free fall frost hit , but by taking stem cuttings from that industrial plant in the summer as described above , and winter those indoors .
Evolvulous glomeratus , which is the most commonly found of all the evolvulus species ( its cultivars , that is ) is native to South America . There are other species native to North America , such as shaggy-haired dwarf mass glory ( Evolvulus nuttallianus),which is aboriginal to the central United States .
Creeping phlox , Ajuga reptans , sneak thyme , and low - originate sort of speedwell will provide blue - flowering groundcover that returns year after class in nerveless climates .
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Andy Lyons
Credit: Marty Baldwin
