Browallia 'White Lady' is a tropical perennial plant grown as an annual in temperate climates, remarkable for its bright and elegant flowering in shaded areas. It forms a small, compact bush with a rounded habit, adorned with pure white star-shaped flowers that stand out against deep green foliage. Suitable for growing in planters, hanging baskets, or damp, shaded borders, it offers a valuable solution for brightening up less sunny spots. It prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils and a position in light or partial shade. It is not hardy, suffering damage at temperatures below 10°C and must be protected or renewed each year. Faded flowers drop cleanly, making way for a continuous renewal of small blooms. Sow the seeds in early spring under heated cover.
Browallia or Browallia 'White Lady' is an ornamental cultivar from the Browallia genus, belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is a horticultural selection of Browallia speciosa, a species native to tropical regions of Central and South America, particularly Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Peru. This species is naturally found in the moist, shaded undergrowth of tropical forests. Browallia 'White Lady' has a bushy, compact habit, typically reaching a height of 30 to 40 cm and a similar spread. Its growth is moderate, with flowering extending from late spring until the first frosts in temperate climates. The flowers are star-shaped with five lobes, measure about 2 to 5 cm in diameter and are pure white, contrasting with medium to dark green foliage. The leaves are simple, ovate to lanceolate, 5 to 10 cm long, arranged in an opposite or subopposite manner on herbaceous and branched stems. The plant does not produce suckers but may self-seed under favourable conditions. The root system is fibrous and shallow, suited to well-drained soils but sensitive to waterlogging.
In a shaded garden, Browallia 'White Lady' displays its white stars with discreet elegance, bringing a soft light to the most secluded corners. Paired with Impatiens 'Vigorous White Variegated', it offers variegated foliage that contrasts harmoniously with the white blooms, ideal for borders or shaded containers. Lobelia erinus 'White Cascade' adds a touch of lightness with its delicate flowers, while Convolvulus tricolor 'Royal Ensign' brings colour. These combinations, all suited to a shaded exposure and moist soil, create a lively and refined composition, ideal for balconies or sheltered terraces.
