Family: Linderniaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Torenia fournieri (wishbone flower) is native to a broad region of Asia, including India, southern China, Indo-China, and Taiwan. It is a low-growing, soft-stemmed annual or short-lived perennial commonly cultivated as an ornamental bedding plant. The species is valued for its attractive, tubular, two-lipped flowers—often in shades of purple, blue, pink, or white with contrasting throats—and its ability to bloom well in partially shaded, moist garden conditions. It is widely used in hanging baskets, borders, and shaded landscape plantings where its continuous flowering and compact growth habit provide colorful groundcover-like displays.

Risks & Threats
Although Torenia fournieri is currently not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses traits that raise concern in tropical environments. It produces abundant seed, can self-sow readily under favorable conditions, and thrives in moist, shaded habitats similar to those found in Hawaii’s lowland and mesic ecosystems. These characteristics increase its potential to escape cultivation and establish in disturbed sites, where it could compete with low-growing native herbs and seedlings. Given its adaptability and reproductive capacity, caution is warranted when planting it near natural areas. When available, choosing low-risk or native groundcover and flowering alternatives is recommended to help protect Hawaii’s unique ecosystems from potential horticultural escapes.

High Risk Traits:

• Able to grow in multiple hardiness zones, and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Widely cultivated and naturalized in many locations, possibly including Hawaii Island (not vouchered in flora)
  
• Regarded as weedy in a number of locations
  
• Other species have become invasive
  
• Deer resistant (possibly unpalatable)
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reported to be self-compatible
  
• Annual (able to reach maturity in one growing season)
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind and intentionally by people
  
• Prolific seed production (densities unknown)

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite naturalization and reports of weediness, detrimental impacts not specified
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental (lei flower)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively