Dychoriste Perrottrii ‘Purple Bells’

Description

Purple Bells
Dychoriste perrottetii

Growing Conditions
SUNLIGHT
Dappled shade to part sun; prefers morning sun with afternoon shade in hot inland areas
WATERING
Water twice weekly during summer, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings; reduce to once weekly in winter
SOIL TYPE
Well-draining, humus-rich loam with compost; tolerates sandy soils if mulched
TEMPERATURE
5–35 °C; frost-tender but recovers from light frost if mulched
HUMIDITY
Moderate to high humidity (50–70%); thrives in summer rainfall regions
FERTILISING
Apply slow-release organic fertiliser in early spring and midsummer, or liquid feed monthly during growing season
GROWTH RATE
Moderate; reaches flowering size within 6–8 months from planting
MATURE SIZE
0.3–0.6 m height x 0.4–0.8 m spread
Indoor Suitability
Can be grown indoors in a bright spot with good air circulation, but performs best outdoors where it receives morning sun. Indoor specimens may become leggy and flower less prolifically than garden-grown plants.
Did You Know?
Purple Bells produces nectar-rich flowers that trigger an explosive pollination mechanism when visiting insects land on them, forcefully dusting the pollinator with pollen through a sudden catapult action of the flower’s reproductive structures.