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Louisiana Super Plants: Kauai Torenia

Jeb Fields, Edwards, Ashley

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Try mixing Kauai colors to create a beautiful boarder in shady areas.


Kauai Torenia

(Torenia fournieri)

  • Recommended Use: Warm-season bedding plant
  • Exposure: Shade to partial shade
  • Size: 8 to 12 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide
  • Habit: Mounding and compact
  • Bloom Time: Spring through fall
  • Maintenance Category: Very low maintenance
  • Water Use: Moderate
  • Highlights: One of the best warm-season bedding plants to bring color to a shade garden. Bright tropical colors and very low maintenance. Thrives in Louisiana’s heat and humidity. Makes great hanging baskets and additions to planters. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Summary

Torenia, also known as wishbone flower, is a compact annual plant that brings vivid colors to shady areas of the garden. Kauai performs well in very hot and humid environments, making it the perfect addition to any late spring and summer landscape in Louisiana. Kauai Torenia, which gets its name from the island in Hawaii, offers a bold color that brings that tropical paradise look to your garden. The Kauai torenia is best used as a warm-season bedding plant or a border plant in gardens and landscapes in areas that get more shade. For a fresh boost to the landscape, try planting Kauai torenia in hanging baskets and planters. Kauai torenia was inducted as a Louisiana Super Plant in the spring of 2014 and continues to be one of our favorites.

Requirements

  • Does best in slightly acidic soils with pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
  • Does best in partial shade but can tolerate more shade.
  • Prefers moist and well-drained soils.

Growth Habit

  • Kauai torenia has a mounding growth habit that fills an area quite well. Will stay compact, growing between 8 and 12 inches tall.
  • Space torenia about 10 inches apart.
  • Hardiness zones 2 to 11. Viable across the state.

Care and Maintenance

  • Keep plants adequately watered throughout the summer for best performance.
  • Apply a minimum of 1 inch of mulch around the base of the plants to prevent the soil from drying out and to ensure proper root health.
  • Plant in late spring (after danger of frost has passed) through the summer.
  • Fertilize with a medium to high rate of a balanced controlled-release fertilizer at time of planting.
  • Kauai torenia blooms constantly from spring through the fall, with no deadheading needed.
  • Kauai torenia can be susceptible to fungal diseases that will affect their leaves and stems if the leaves stay wet for too long. Proper irrigation management and plant spacing will prevent most of the disease occurrences.

Varieties for Louisiana Landscapes

Kauai torenia is available in seven different colors. Each brings a unique bold splash of color combinations, including Blue and White, Burgundy, Deep Blue, Lemon Drop, Magenta, Rose and White. You can also get Kauai torenia as a mix to bring the colors together in a unique and striking blend.

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4/6/2020 3:21:20 PM
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