Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Torenia asiatica L.

Frost tender, trailing annual with serrated, lance-shaped leaves, to 5cm, and stout, axillary racemes of tubular, dark purple-blue flowers, with violet lateral lobes, blotched with purple, in summer.  To 25cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘It is not by any means easy for a painter to do justice to the rich purple-blue tinge of this plant, which, with the size of the blossoms, the three dark purple blotches on the pale ground, together with the delicate yellow-green of the foliage, renders this one of the most lovely plants.’  [BM t.4249/1846].  ‘Forms a good plant for bedding out in warm situations in the flower-garden, where it flowers with great freedom, and spreads over the surface of the ground.’  [MB p.197/1848].  ‘The characteristics which distinguish this fine plant are abundance of flowers at nearly all seasons, elegant growth and easy cultivation.’  [Gard. Chron. 1852].  FC p.145/1846.  Torenia asiatica var. pulcherrima, raised by the English nursery Henderson’s, was figured in the Belgian publications Illustration Horticole [IH p.199 vol.6/1859] and Flore des Serres [FS f.1342/1858]. 

According to Don introduced to Britain in 1823, although Curtis’s Botanical Magazine gives a much later date, attributing its introduction to W. Strachan, the first flowering in 1846.  ‘This species varies in hairiness, form of leaves and size of corollas, as it now stands; but there are probably several species confused under the name.’  [Don].  

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [H.225/1850].  Obtained from the London Horticultural Society and Kew Gardens.  Included among desiderata in a letter to John Lindley dated 15th February 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.157] and to Kew at about the same time [MP A2933-1, p.165] and marked ‘arrived’ on Macarthur’s copies.

Notes

Torenia asiatica Benth. = Torenia cordifolia Roxb.

Published Sep 24, 2009 - 04:56 PM | Last updated Feb 18, 2010 - 05:24 PM

Figured are lance-shaped, toothed leaves and pale blue flowers with a purple blotch.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.4249, 1846.

Torenia asiatica L. | BM t.4249/1846 | BHL

Family Scrophulariaceae
Category
Region of origin

India to China

Synonyms
  • Torenia bicolor Dalzell 
Common Name

Wishbone flower

Name in the Camden Park Record

Torenia Asiatica 

Confidence level high