CALIBRACHOA: ENJOY NONSTOP FLOWERS IN A RAINBOW OF COLORS

Zones:

Annual up to Zone 8; perennial in Zones 9-11.

Height/Spread:

Sprawling habit, with plants reaching 12-24 inches wide, 6-12 inches tall, and trailing stems up to 30 inches long.

Exposure:

Calibrachoa bloom best with at least six hours of sun, though they can tolerate partial shade.

Bloom time:

Planting until frost.

Color and characteristics:

Plants have compact oval green leaves, which are somewhat sticky, and one-inch flowers that look similar to petunias. Blooms include solid and bicolors, stripes, patterns, and doubles. With a rainbow of colors to choose from, including coral, yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, purple, burgundy, lavender, and crème, there’s something for everyone. They are prolific bloomers with flowers that are self-cleaning, requiring no deadheading.

Also known as:

Many gardeners use Million Bells® as the common name for Calibrachoa, without realizing that this is a trademarked name under which they first arrived on the U.S. market. Others call them mini-petunias or trailing petunias, which can be misleading since they aren’t truly petunias.

When to plant:

Plant outside in mid-late spring after all danger of frost is past.

Where to plant:

Grow them in containers or hanging baskets, by themselves or in combination with other plants. Make sure your containers have drainage holes. They can be planted in bedding displays providing soil is well amended, with good drainage, but perform best in pots.

How to plant:

Place potting mix in a hanging basket or container. Remove purchased plants from the pots they were sold in (usually 4-inch or quart size) and gently tease the roots out if plants are pot-bound. Place 6-12 inches apart and firm soil around the base. Water well to thoroughly wet the plant and settle the soil around it.

Pruning and deadheading:

Unlike most petunias, Calibrachoa are self-cleaning and require no deadheading. Pinch back tips occasionally to encourage branching, which will produce more flowers. To rejuvenate plants mid-season, cut branches to half their length and fertilize to stimulate new growth.

Soil:

For containers and hanging baskets, use a quality all-purpose potting mix that drains well. For bedding displays, soil should be well amended and drain quickly.

Amendments & fertilizer:

Calibrachoa are heavy feeders; nutrients are quickly leached from the soil by frequent watering. Fertilize regularly for prolific, continuous bloom. Use a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks as recommended, or add a slow-release granular fertilizer to the soil at planting time, replenishing according to instructions.

Watering:

Proper watering is essential. During hot weather, containers can dry out quickly, so they should be checked every few days or even daily. The frequency of watering will vary according to temperature, humidity, type of potting mix, and container size. Stick your finger two inches down into the soil; if it feels dry, then it’s time to water. Overwatering can result in disease problems.

Diseases and pests:

Overwatering can lead to root rot or an infection from one of the Phytophthora species, which can kill plants. If plants are wilted after watering, this can be a sign of root rot. Heat stress can make plants susceptible to spider mites, and aphids.

Deer resistance:

Calibrachoa do not seem particularly tasteful to deer; however, they are not classified as deer resistant.

With so many choices of flower colors and forms, it can be daunting to pick the best varieties for your garden. Here are a few tips:

For containers:

Choose flower colors that will complement the pot, home exterior or overall garden scheme.

For hanging baskets:

Combine varieties in opposite hues, such as purple and orange, or blue and yellow, to create visual tension and interest.

For bedding displays:

Group the same color in masses for greater impact. Select a palette of hues that will play off each other, such as red, orange and yellow, or blue, lavender and pink. The sum of the colors together will be greater than each individual hue.

One of the most versatile annuals, Calibrachoa can be incorporated into any landscape. Here’s how:

• Place one or two tall ceramic pots near your home’s entrance and fill with colorful Superbells® as a cheerful way to greet visitors.
• Adorn arbors and pergolas with hanging baskets brimming with your favorite colors.
• Plant window boxes that receive at least 6 hours of sunlight with colors that complement your home’s exterior.
• Shepherd’s hooks are a great way to add hanging baskets for instant color by a patio, deck or poolside. Hooks are easily moved around for a fresh look.
• Place a hanging basket outside your kitchen window to enjoy a burst of color whenever you’re cooking or doing dishes. This will attract hummingbirds and butterflies up close where you can most appreciate them.

Calibrachoa combine well with many other annuals. Get creative and make your own custom containers using the principle of “thriller, filler, and spiller.”

• Combine them with taller plants such as angelonia, coleus, African daisy, purple fountain grass, zonal geranium, or Persian shield.
• Add fillers such as coral bells, lantana, marigold, or sedges.
• Companion trailers include sweet potato vine, fan flower (Scaevola), verbena, bidens, bacopa, or nemesia.