General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 3 - 4 feet
Plant Spread: 3 feet
Flowers: Showy
Other: Larger flowers
Flower Color: Purple
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Other: Pinch to improve branching. Year round in frost free areas.
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Porterweed
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Stachytarpheta mutabilis
  • Synonym: Stachytarpheta mutabilis var. violacea

Photo Gallery
Location: My garden full sun triple digit heat no problem 
Date: 2022-08-21
Henlea's Hummingbird Heaven Porterweed
Location: NW MO - zone 6a
Date: 08/26/2018
Blooming stalk
Location: NW MO - zone 6a
Date: 08/26/2018
Planted in ground approx 07/15/2018
Location: NW MO - zone 6a
Date: 2018-08-26
Close up of blooms
Location: NW MO - zone 6a
Date: 08/26/2018
Close up of blooms
Location: NW MO - zone 6a
Date: 08/26/2018
An emerging stalk for blooms
Location: My garden, KY
Date: 27 June, 2023
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 8, 2018 8:58 PM concerning plant:
    Porterweed (Stachytarpheta mutabilis 'Henlea's Hummingbird Heaven') is a 2018 introduction from Almost Eden.
  • Posted by jg0613 (NW MO - Zone 6a) on Aug 25, 2018 8:19 PM concerning plant:
    This is the first year I have grown any Porterweed. It is an annual for me. So I ordered 2 varieties from "Almost Eden" and this one "Henlea's Hummingbird Heaven" was one of the 2. It arrived in very healthy condition with 2 good sized bloom stalks already on it. Planted in ground in an area that gets sun all morning then light shade later in the hotttest part of the day. It took off like crazy! I didn't purchase it as early as I would have preferred but it is growing fast. The first 2 bloom stalks finished but more keep coming all the time! Just LOVE the color of the flowers! Compared to Coral Porterweed (the other selection I got) the flowers are the same size- this one stays more compact but good sized. Haven't taken photos yet but will try to take and post some here soon. I definitely will grow this one again! I highly recommend it.

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