A glorious display of large, sapphire-blue flowers in fall and winter make the bush violet from Colombia an impressive and attractive pot plant. The trailing stems lend themselves to use in a hanging basket. Removing the flowers as they fade can prolong the display for several weeks. It is best treated as an annual and discarded once flowering is over.

Varieties include: B.s. ‘Major’ (sapphire flower), which has a more upright habit, bright green leaves, and large, violet-blue flowers with a white throat and deep blue veining on the petals, and B.s. ‘Silver Bells,’ which is a white cultivar.

Size: Height 18—24 in. (45—60 cm). Light Direct sunlight, except noon in summer.

Temperature: 55—60°F (12— 15°C).

Moisture: Keep moist at all times.

Feeding: Give standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks while the plant is in flower.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring or summer. Pinch the tips of the shoots as they grow to make them bush.

Special needs: The thin branches need tying to stakes if the plant is to be grown as a bush. Higher than recommended temperatures will lead to the flowers fading quickly.