Duranta

This unusual annual has beautiful blue-and-white flowers almost orchidlike in their beauty. A tropical shrub in the warmest parts of the country, Zones 8-11, duranta is grown in the rest of the country as an annual. It delights gardeners with its airy clusters of blue, violet, or white flowers followed by golden fruits. Plant it in a container and come fall, it will make a good indoor plant in a large, sunny, south-facing window.

Watch for selections with variegated foliage; they add even more interest. As tropical shrubs, they can reach 15 feet or more, but when grown as annuals in cool regions, they seldom top 5 feet. Plant in spring in rich, well-drained soil after all danger of frost has passed. Fertilize moderately. Keep moist but do not overwater.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun,Shade

Zones:

10-11

Plant Type:

Annual,Shrub

Plant Height:

1-6 feet tall

Plant Width:

2-4 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Privacy

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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White duranta

Duranta 'Alba' bears pure-white flowers followed by yellow fruit. It grows 1-2 feet tall as an annual and up to 6 feet tall as a tropical shrub.
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Plant It With

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Impatiens

Variegated selections are great shade-garden plants and add a fun splash of color alongside impatiens.

Sweet potato vine

Create a stunning container garden by pairing upright duranta with a skirt of golden sweet potato vine.

Tweedia

Tweedia's sky blue, starry flowers look great intertwined with duranta's smaller clusters of bloom.

Propagation

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Seed
Stem Cuttings