Botanical Name: Torenia fournieri ‘Purple Moon™’

Common Name: Torenia, Wishbone Flower

Hardiness Zone: Grown as an annual in all climates (perennial in USDA Zones 10–11)

Size: 10–14" tall × 12–18" wide

Growth Habit: Compact, mounded, well-branched

Sunlight: Partial Shade to Full Shade (tolerates morning sun)

Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil or high-quality potting mix

Water Needs: Moderate; prefers consistently moist soil

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light, regular feeding during active growth

Features: Rich purple blooms, golden throat, heat tolerant, self-cleaning, shade-loving

Uses: Containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, shaded borders, mass plantings

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation prohibited without license

More About Torenia ‘Purple Moon™’

Torenia ‘Purple Moon™’ is a compact, shade-loving annual selected for its deep, saturated purple blooms and dependable summer performance. The flowers have a rich, velvety finish with a subtle yellow throat that adds dimension without lightening the overall color. Plants form a neat, mounded shape with strong branching, staying full and balanced rather than stretching as the season progresses. Blooming begins in late spring and continues uninterrupted through frost. With self-cleaning flowers and consistent structure, it remains attractive with very little maintenance.

This variety performs especially well in warm, humid conditions where many shade plants struggle to maintain color and density. ‘Purple Moon™’ continues to flower steadily through summer heat as long as it receives even moisture and protection from harsh afternoon sun. It thrives in partial to full shade but tolerates gentle morning sun without stress. Its controlled growth makes it well-suited for mixed containers, window boxes, and shaded borders. Overall, it delivers strong, long-lasting color in spaces that often lack visual depth.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Purple Moon™’ stood out for its consistency and richness of color across the entire season. While other purple-toned shade annuals faded or turned muddy in summer heat, this one held its depth beautifully. A few years ago, we planted it along a shaded walkway where darker colors usually disappear, but ‘Purple Moon™’ stayed visible and full all Summer long. It required virtually no touch-ups and never lost its shape. That kind of reliable, low-effort performance is exactly what we look for when choosing plants we’re confident recommending.

Purple Moon™ vs. Other Torenia Varieties

Within the Moon Series, ‘Purple Moon™’ is the darkest and most dramatic option. It is closely compared to Blue Moon™, which reads cooler and cleaner, but Purple Moon™ brings more richness and visual weight to plantings. White Moon™ offers brightness and contrast but lacks the depth that Purple Moon™ provides. When paired together, White Moon™ opens up tight or heavily shaded spaces where darker colors like Purple can feel heavy. Compared to Yellow Moon™ adds warmth and softness, making it better for highlighting, while Purple Moon™ works best as a grounding color. All Moon Series varieties share compact habits and strong heat tolerance, but when bold, saturated shade color is the goal, ‘Purple Moon™’ leads the pack.