Botanical Name: Torenia fournieri ‘Summer Wave® Trailing Blue’

Common Name: Torenia, Wishbone Flower

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

Size: 6–10" tall × 18–30" spread

Growth Habit: Trailing, cascading, 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 evenly moist soil

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Early Fall

Fertilizer: Light, regular feeding during active growth

Features: Deep blue flowers, trailing habit, heat tolerant, self-cleaning blooms

Uses: Hanging baskets, window boxes, mixed containers, elevated planters

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation prohibited without license

More About Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Trailing Blue’

Torenia ‘Summer Wave® Trailing Blue’ is one of the best trailing options available for shaded spaces, offering movement and color where many plants fall flat. The flowers are a rich, saturated blue with a classic wishbone shape, appearing consistently along cascading stems rather than just at the tips. Plants spread outward gracefully, creating a full, flowing look that softens edges and fills space quickly. Blooming begins in late Spring and continues steadily through the heat of Summer without requiring deadheading. Its self-cleaning flowers and vigorous growth make it especially low-maintenance for containers.

This variety thrives in Part Shade to Full Shade and handles humidity far better than most trailing annuals. It tolerates gentle morning sun but performs best when protected from harsh afternoon exposure. With regular watering and light feeding, it maintains strong color and density all season. ‘Summer Wave® Trailing Blue’ is particularly effective in hanging baskets and window boxes where airflow and shade can vary. Overall, it’s a dependable choice when vertical interest and spill-over color are the goal.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Summer Wave® Trailing Blue’ consistently impressed us with how evenly it flowered along the stems. Many trailing plants bloom heavily at first and then thin out, but this one stayed full from top to bottom. We incorporated it into a shaded porch basket one Summer where it outperformed everything else planted nearby—even during a stretch of extreme heat. It never went bare in the center and didn’t need trimming to look good. That kind of reliability makes it an easy recommendation for baskets and elevated containers.

Summer Wave® Trailing Blue vs. Moon Series & Kauai Mix

Summer Wave® Trailing Blue has a completely different growth habit compared to our popular Moon™ Series. Summer Wave® is bred specifically to trail and spill while the Moon Series is compact and mounded, making them better suited for upright containers and garden beds. Color-wise, Blue Moon™ offers a cleaner, more upright presentation, whereas Summer Wave® delivers movement and flow.

When compared to Torenia ‘Kauai Mix’, the difference is again structure and intent. Kauai Mix stays compact and multicolored, making it ideal for borders and mixed containers where uniform shape matters. Summer Wave® Trailing Blue, on the other hand, is about single-color impact and cascading form. If you need structure, choose Moon Series or Kauai Mix; if you want motion, softness, and true trailing performance, ‘Summer Wave® Trailing Blue’ is the clear winner.