How to Grow Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple
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Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple
Calibrachoa × hybrida 'Cabaret Purple'
flowerCalibrachoa Cabaret Purple is a compact, mounding annual flower featuring vibrant deep purple blooms with yellow throats. This is a petunia-like flower bred for continuous blooming and improved weather tolerance, making it ideal for containers, baskets, and garden beds.
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Example Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple blooms
Around Jun 1≈ 45 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Calibrachoa Cabaret Purple dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Grows as annual in zones 2-11; overwinters in zones 9-11
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Germination & Seedling
10-14 daysTiny seeds sprout and develop first true leaves. Seedlings are delicate with small opposite leaves.
Provide bright, indirect light on heat mat (70-75°F). Keep soil moist but never waterlogged. Maintain 12-16 hours of light daily. Transplant when 2-3 true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops branching stems and bushy foliage with small narrow leaves. Growth is compact and mounding.
Provide 6-8 hours of full sun daily. Maintain consistent moisture. Begin light fertilizing with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Pinch growing tips to encourage branching.
Bud Formation
2-3 weeksTerminal buds begin forming at branch tips. Plant becomes noticeably fuller with visible flower buds developing.
Continue full sun exposure. Switch to bloom-promoting fertilizer (higher phosphorus). Water consistently. Remove any diseased or dead foliage.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (or until frost)Abundant deep purple flowers with yellow throats bloom continuously. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, about 1 inch across.
Deadhead spent blooms weekly to promote continuous flowering. Maintain consistent watering, especially in containers. Apply bloom fertilizer every 10-14 days. Protect from extreme heat stress with afternoon shade in zones 9-11.
Decline & End of Season
4+ weeks until frostFlowering diminishes in fall as temperatures drop or with first frost. Plant may decline or be killed by freezing temperatures.
Reduce fertilizer applications. In zones 9-11, can overwinter indoors or in protected locations. Otherwise, treat as annual and replace. Collect seeds if desired before plant dies.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Inspect leaf undersides regularly. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly. Yellow sticky traps help monitor and reduce populations. Improve air circulation.
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Increase humidity by misting leaves. Spray with water forcefully to dislodge mites. Use miticides if severe. Keep plants well-watered to reduce stress.
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Spray with strong water jet to remove. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs. Use reflective mulch to confuse aphids.
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Remove heavily infested leaves. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Use blue or yellow sticky traps. Maintain good air circulation.
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Ensure excellent air circulation. Water at soil level, not foliage. Remove infected plant parts. Apply fungicide if severe. Reduce overhead moisture.
Uses
Edible Flower Garnish
CulinaryCalibrachoa flowers are non-toxic and can be used as decorative edible garnishes for desserts and salads, adding vibrant purple color and delicate beauty to culinary presentations. [source]
Container & Hanging Basket Growing
HouseholdSpecially bred for container cultivation, this cultivar thrives in pots, window boxes, and hanging baskets, providing season-long color with minimal space requirements. [source]
Pollinator Attraction
WildlifeThe abundant small flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, making it an excellent choice for supporting beneficial insect populations in gardens. [source]
Floral Arrangements & Cut Flowers
CraftIndividual flowers or short stems can be used in small floral arrangements and corsages, though blooms have relatively short vase life (2-3 days). [source]
Landscape Color & Garden Design
HouseholdCreates vibrant purple cascading displays in mixed borders, rock gardens, and mass plantings; excellent for creating continuous color from spring until fall frost. [source]
Harvest Tips
Deadhead (remove) spent flowers regularly by pinching off wilted blooms at the base. This encourages continuous flowering throughout the growing season. Harvest seeds (if desired) by allowing a few flowers to fade and produce seed pods; collect pods when dry and extract seeds.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Calibrachoa is often called 'million bells' because a single mature plant can produce hundreds of small flowers simultaneously during peak bloom season.
- 🌱 Unlike traditional petunias, calibrachoa flowers are typically smaller (about 1 inch) but far more numerous, creating a more delicate, refined appearance.
- 🌱 The 'Cabaret' series was specifically bred for improved disease resistance and weather tolerance, including rain fastness and heat endurance compared to older calibrachoa cultivars.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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