Hundreds of small bell-shaped flowers open along soft stems whose leaves and blooms dangle and tumble over the side of a pot like a waterfall. Calibrachoa is the answer to a bare balcony or overhang, flowering from the end of spring until fall — as long as it is given sun and well-drained, fertile ground.
| Name | Calibrachoa |
|---|---|
| Family | Solanaceae or nightshade |
| Type | annual |
| Height | 6 to 20 inches (50 cm) |
| Exposure | sun or part sun |
| Soil | rather rich, not too chalky |
| Flowering | end spring → fall |
Calibrachoa is often used as a cascading flower for suspended pots and overhangs. Even though it is a perennial in warmer areas, in temperate climates it is grown as an annual but its blooming lasts a long time.
It is recommended to plant this petunia-related plant in spring, after any risk of freezing is over, because it doesn’t survive freezing well.
For seeds, start sowing in a tray indoors, in your home, starting in February/March.
Simply press the seeds down to ensure they stick to the special “seedling soil mix”, without covering them over.
Water regularly to retain moisture, but not too much.
When the first leaves of your calibrachoa pop out, transplant to nursery pots and wait for the last frost to have passed before planting them outdoors.
Whether the plant is in a container or in the ground, select a sun-filled spot for maximum blooming.
Calibrachoa is planted in the ground, in containers or in hanging pots, and each situation calls for a different soil preparation. Use the table to match your planting to the right mix.
| Planting situation | Soil preparation | Point to watch |
|---|---|---|
| In a flower bed | Blend garden soil with soil mix | Plant only once any risk of freezing is over |
| Pots, garden boxes, containers | Garden earth mixed with soil mix, or soil mix alone | Soil mix alone further boosts growth and blooming |
| Hanging pot | Hanging plant soil mix, which is lighter | Hanging pots need watering more often than pots near the ground |
Whatever the container, a sun-filled spot is what delivers maximum blooming.
To enhance flower-bearing, you can remove wilted flowers regularly.
During spells of high temperatures, feel free to water in the evening to avoid having your calibrachoa dry out.
Remember that hanging calibrachoa will need water more often than those in pots near the ground.
Calibrachoa is nearly always sold as a named series rather than as a single cultivar, and each series has its own colour range and way of growing. Use the table to pick the one that suits your pot, basket or bed.
| Variety | Flower colours | Habit | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Million Bells | Pink, blue, white, yellow, terracotta | Trailing | Hanging pots and overhangs |
| Superbells | Very wide range, including starred and two-tone | Trailing to semi-trailing | Baskets and large mixed containers |
| Cabaret | Solid brights and pastels | Mounded, semi-trailing | Containers and bed edges |
| Can-Can | Singles and doubles, many shades | Trailing | Hanging baskets and mixed pots |
| Kabloom | Separate and mixed colours | Mounding to lightly trailing | Raising from seed indoors, then bedding |
| MiniFamous | Bright solids plus double forms | Compact, mounding | Window boxes and small pots |
All there is to know about calibrachoa
Calibrachoa are native to provinces in Southern Brazil and Northern Uruguay.
Related genetically to the petunia, the only way to tell them apart is in a laboratory by looking at their chromosome count.
This is a semi-hardy annual. It bestows us with a very beautiful blooming from the beginning of spring until fall.
It loves sun and well-drained fertile ground.
Calibrachoa can be found in flower beds, along edges and in rocky ground. It produces very beautiful spots of color.
Many hanging pots also harbor calibrachoa.
This flower is perfectly suited to growing in suspended pots because its leaves and flowers dangle and tumble along the side like a waterfall.
Flower your garden, balcony or terrace with calibrachoa for a landscape that is full of colors!
