Brazilian-tea

Year-round

Blue porterweed loves sun, handles drought, and is a good fit for Orlando's mild climate.

• Give it a sunny spot, though it also grows in part sun to part shade.
• It tolerates sandy, loam and clay soils and has high drought tolerance.
• It is suited to zones 10 and 11, and one extension source reports hardiness to 9B.

Fall

Fall flowers keep going, so enjoy them and watch the forecast.

• Flowering continues into fall.
• Be ready to protect it if a freeze is forecast, since Orlando sits near the edge of its hardiness range.
• Planting is possible year round in zones 10 and 11.

Winter

Winter in Orlando can bring freezes, so plan ahead.

• Plants sit near the cold limit of their range, so cover them on freeze nights.
• Wait until the freeze danger passes before cutting back damaged growth.
• Cut back leggy stems for thicker new growth.

Spring

Spring is a great time to plant and trim.

• Cut back leggy plants to thicken new growth.
• Water new plants regularly during establishment.
• Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart.

Summer

Summer is bloom season, so keep water steady only for young plants.

• Blue or pink flower spikes show in summer and fall.
• Water during extended summer drought.
• Established plants need little else.

Leggy drooping stems can look messy, so trim back to keep a front bed neat.