First Sign of Spring, Pink Breath of Heaven Blooming
How can you not love a plant called “Pink Breath of Heaven”. This shrub originally from South Africa, explodes into bloom winter to spring, with showy pink delicate tiny flowers on wispy feather-like branches. I feel like it is my own personal “trumpeter” in the garden, announcing the beginning of spring.
Pink Breath of Heaven, Coleonema pulchrum, can sometimes be found in nurseries under the name, Pink Diosma. There is also a white-flowered species, called White Breath of Heaven, Coleonema album, which is equally as beautiful in bloom and size. Pink Breath of Heaven likes full sun or partial shade, and moderate water. At maturity, it can easily become one of your largest evergreen shrubs in the garden reaching 5 feet high by 5 feet wide. It benefits by trimming it back, or lacing it if you prefer, after its spring bloom, to shape it and keep it compact. It does well in zones 7-9, and 14-24. Pink Breath of Heaven has a slight bit of fragrance when touched lightly, or brushed up against it.
Introducing this showy shrub into your garden, requires some thought on where to best place it for ample room to grow and thrive, and yet blend in with the rest of the garden. Pink Breath of Heaven look nice as a background shrub, as a focal point, or even along a pathway. For its size, it has a light and airy feeling to it, and it moves beautifully in a breeze.
Its delicate pink flowers are such a feminine and romantic pink, I like to use a visually complementary plant color palette such as dark pinks, purples, lavenders, and green colors surrounding it in the garden.
It is about this time of year, the end of February, in my zone 9 garden, my Pink Breath of Heaven bursts alive with its stunning first bloom and lets me know that spring is just around the corner.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I there a life expectancy to the “Breath of Heaven”?
t a sweet, I have never seen a life expectancy for Breath of Heaven. I can tell you that they are a South African native, and in my mind a pretty hardy plant. I can tell you that I have had mine in my garden for 10 years now, and they are very happy. They are low maintenance, and especially stunning in their spring bloom. Thank you for your comment….VintageGardenGal
I recently purchased 2 breathes of heaven apprx. in May. I moved one because it was turning brown along side the other one. The one started coming back and now they are both turning brown. Im in Lake County, CA. I would like to know if they will come back or if they are dead or dying.
I had a question about your pink breath of heaven. I just bought a small container of it. Should i give it a lot of room to grow and how fast does it grow? How big do you think it might get within the first year? I have a small little plot of dirt in front of the house that is barren. I want a nice shrub to cover that empty space. Do you think I should buy a few more containers? Sorry for the several questions and I appreciate your help. Cheers!
Gary, pink breath of heaven in the right conditions will get quite big. I think I started mine from 1 gallon containers. Yes they grow quickly, and within a year or two each one can be 3′ x 3′ or more. They are beautiful in bloom. I usually plant in at least 3′s of a plant. I don’t know if you have that much room. Try it, and if you need to move them, adjust. Thanks for your great question….VintageGardenGal
I had forgotten the name of this lovely flowering evergreen and finally remembered to look it up when I saw one at the plant store. I planted one many years ago (7?) in a little section near my front door. It has bloomed with joy every winter, when everything else is dormant. It has reached full height I think and shields our entry from the street many feet away. I love coming home to the tiny flowers and when my son carelessly bumps into it, the fragrance fills the air. This is a surprisingly hearty, and yet delicate looking “shrub” which I hope will stay with me many more years. I have forgotten to water it in the past and yet it thrives. I take cuttings and put them in a clear vase and it lasts for up to two weeks as a wild flower type of arrangement. This simple plant has given me great joy – in southern California.
Alicia, so well put. It is hard to beat the beauty of Pink Breath of Heaven in spring time blooming in your garden. Thanks for your lovely comment…VintageGardenGal
are you sure it is okay in a zone 7?
i have seen different info regarding the zones it is okay in. Lots say no less than a zone 8.
i am no warmer than a zone 7,………..and have 6 plants to transplant.
any info, ideas, experiences in colder than zones 8?
any info would be hugely appreciated.!!
Roxanne, I checked with Sunset Western Garden Book again, and it says for Pink Breath of Heaven, zones 7-9, 14-24. I don’t have experience with this plant in cooler zones. Try it, and see. Thanks for your great question….VintageGardenGal
I just planted several breath of heaven in 1 gal pots. How and when should I prune them and the ones I planted last year. They still have lots of flowers and at the tips lots of new green shoots. I’d like them about 4 ft tall eventually. They are lovely swaying in the breeze with their pink flowers.
Sydney, it is best to prune your breath of heaven after their spring main bloom. You can prune and lace them inside a bit, if you like. Spring is their best time of the year, and it sounds like yours are doing well flowering and with green tips. Wait a few months. Breath of heaven will get quite large, even more than 4′, and that is their beauty, too, in your garden. I actually do not prune mine much, they look beautiful untouched too. This is not a plant you want to keep controlling its size. It wants to be big with the right conditions. I love their lacy delicate flowers swaying in the breeze, too. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal
Help Sydney Please! Several of my Breath Of Heavens are becoming woody looking and then dying. My heart is breaking, I love them and have lost at least 5, looks like I may be loosing 3-4 more. Too much water, not enough, or could it be either one? I have found in two of them there seemed to be too much water but I don’t feel it is the same with the others. I live in Sacramento, zone 9 I believe. Very hot day’s at times, overall very warm weather. My plants have plenty of room, are on a drip system and only get about 14 minutes of water a day if that. Thanks for your tips and time spent!
Michele, it sounds like too much water to me. Consult you local nursery, too. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
I have had my breath of heane for 11 yearys. I simply love them. But now some ar turning brown and look like they are dying. and the others look fine. I have a toal of seven plants that mak a hedge. Does anyone know what might be happening?
George, are they getting enough water? Have you had a hot summer? VintageGardenGal
I would love to know what resulted in the gardens of those who commented in July & August! The same thing is happening to my Pink Breath of Heavens. Some of them are fine, some of them are not, most are in the ground, one is in a pot. I’m in Southern California. It seemed like the yellowing leaves started almost immediately after we had some hot weather and they hadn’t been watered in a couple days.
One of them, had turned yellow right when planting it in the ground (months ago) then came back beautifully, flowered and now yellowed again along with the others at the same time.
My husband purchase a Pink Breath of Heaven and I thought maybe we could use several more along a fence…… in front yard. However nothing on the indentifying slip or picture or anywhere mentioned how they will do in the desert here in the Coachella Valley, Southern Cali.
We liked the fact that it said it would tolerate dry soil all though where we plan to put it that would not be likely as it would be watered by the lawn sprinklers…
In the past we have put in plants and then when it’s 118 degrees outside they have burned up or just died. To be honest I really don’t know what zone we are in? Sure would appreciate any info you have. Thank you.
Jackie, I would try and identify what zone you are in either by contacting a local nursery, or finding a garden website where you can plug in your zip code and they identify your particular zone. The pink breath of heaven does best in zones 7-9, and 14-24. It pays do your homework first. Good luck….VintageGardenGal
Can Breath of Heaven be grown successfully as a container plant? I am in Zone 9 0r 10 depending on what book you read… SF Bay area. Thanks Bonnie.
Helen, I’ve never seen in a container or pot, other than at a nursery to buy. Judging by how big they get in my garden, I think they do best planted. This time of year, they are blooming and absolutely gorgeous….VintageGardenGal
thank you for your reply. one more question.. can breath of heaven grow in shade of other trees and maybe get late afternoon sun in spring/summer? saying maybe 3 pm on?
I live in Santa Rosa, California area and lost my first breath of heaven after only one season. I just bought another and have it in a very large pot. Please instruck me as to how often I should water. Once a week? Once a month? Should I keep it dry as it’s origin is South Africa?
Charlie, you can grow Pink Breath of Heaven in a pot, but I think they are much happier in the ground. You have to water PBH regularly at first to get it established, even more so if you have it in a pot. My experience with it, if it ever is left too dry, it never really comes back or recovers. With that said, it is a drought tolerant plant once established so there is a fine line. Good luck…VintageGardenGal
I have planted 3 breath of heaven in my front flower bed a few weeks ago….plenty of room to grow. Two are doing fine and have that beautiful vibrant green…the 3rd one is starting to turn yellow. Is it too much water? Not enough? that area gets sun most of the day, but that particular one gets some shade in the afternoon from the tree that sits back behind it. Is the area too shady? I’m in Fresno, zone 8.
Cyndi, I can only suggest what is wrong. Your third plant might be getting too much water, and too little sun. These plants are from South Africa, and are very drought tolerant once established, and sun-loving. Maybe you could transplant it to a sunnier spot. Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal
Hi Bonnie,
I have an entire breath of heaven hedge, with each plant exhibiting great color and some flowering. Occassionaly, I find only a stem or two that completely turns brown, almost if dead. The color change originates at the tip and spreads. Any thoughts?
Corey, it is really hard to say. Maybe it is on the dry side, and it effects a stem. Prune those out, and see if the problem persists. You can always check with your nursery source for advice, too.
Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal
Happy to find your site, Bonnie,
Friends who have moved first gave me a whisky barrel with both pink breath of heaven on one side and impatiens on the other. From what I’ve read its not the best combination, still breath of heaven seams happy, except it has grown in height and falls over in half. Please, should I transplant into the ground, or try pruning? Its Sept. 6, 2011, and this is all new to me. Would it do well against the house with walls on 2 sides, facing west, in a little bigger than 3 ft by 2 ft of space? its just over 3 ft tall…Appreciate your advise, thanks!
My breath of heaven started yellowing about a month ago and is now looking a little crispy. There is a hint of yellow green at the base. My sunset book tells me i am zone 17. I live in california near san francisco. I have been reading online to find out if the yellowing is normal. I stumbled upon this page and learned that i probably should have took it out of its container and put it into the ground. I will prune it and hope it bounces back for the spring. I am very doubtful. If i remember, i will give an update; maybe someone stumbing upon this page will find it helpful. thanks for the info!
Oh well. when i pruned my breath of heaven i saw that it was far worse off than i thought.It was completely dried out.I realized that i had too get rid of it. So sad. I took the root ball out of the container. It was dense. I only had this plant for a few months. Next time i will put it in the ground. The same thing happened with some bouganviillas i got around the same time. I got three.I left two in their containers and put one in the ground. the one in the ground looks great, even survived the frost- it was 20 degrees a few weeks ago; but the ones i left in the containers lost all their leaves and got crispy.