Growing Evolvulus: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Evolvulus is a plant that thrives in hot weather and continues to impress with its blue blooms throughout the fall. This plant is unique because of its bright, true blue flowers which come in one of the rarest colors in horticulture. With silvery-green foliage, it works as a groundcover or in containers, and is related to morning glory but is not toxic. Evolvulus needs full sun and excellent drainage, and has a spreading habit that makes it great as a seasonal filler in garden beds or cascading down walls. Potted annual evolvulus is planted in spring after frost danger passes, with plants spaced 2 to 2.5 feet apart. It grows best in well-drained soil with slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH, and is drought-tolerant but cannot tolerate wet soil. It needs warm weather and should be fertilized monthly in spring and summer. Pruning young plants encourages branching, and cutting back mature plants helps encourage fresh growth. Evolvulus does not require repotting, and there are no serious insect or disease problems. Stem cuttings are the best way to propagate evolvulus, as seeds won’t produce true-to-parent plants.

MARTY BALDWIN introduces three different cultivars of Evolvulus plants, each with its unique characteristics. The ‘Blue Daze’ variety has bigger blue flowers and slightly hairy gray-green foliage. On the other hand, ‘Blue My Mind’ stands out for its trailing silvery-green foliage and extreme heat tolerance. Lastly, ‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’ features slightly bell-shaped flowers that bloom daily throughout the growing season and spread up to 2-3 feet wide. To complement these Evolvulus plants, French Marigold is suggested as an appropriate companion plant.

French marigolds are the fancier version of the flower, as their name suggests. They have frilly features and some even have a unique “crested eye” appearance. Typically growing to a height of 8 to 12 inches, French marigolds have a chic and tidy growth habit with elegant dark green foliage. They thrive in full sunlight with well-drained soil and bloom continuously throughout the summer. If they’re content in their location, they may even reseed and return year after year. Another noteworthy plant is the Nierembergia.

Nierembergia is a lovely annual flower that features charming cup-shaped blooms and a tidy growth pattern, which makes it an ideal choice for a variety of garden applications. Whether used as a border plant or potted plant, this versatile flower adds a crisp touch to any landscape design, particularly when opting for the white varieties. Additionally, its medium height makes it an excellent option for visually linking taller plants with trailing ones in container gardens. While typically grown as an annual, nierembergia can also serve as a perennial in regions that fall between Zones 7 and 10.

Are you a big fan of blue flowers? Then you definitely need to check out tweedia! This plant boasts stunning turquoise blooms that will keep coming back all season long, set amidst grayish foliage with a felted texture. And it’s not just beautiful – the fragrant five-petal flowers also make for excellent cut flowers that will add a lovely touch to any bouquet. Plus, at just 2 to 3 feet tall, this short vine is perfect for twining around trellises or other support structures. For a more natural look, why not try inserting a shrubby branch cutting into the soil to create a rustic support?