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What do petunias look like


How to Grow and Care For Petunias

Petunias (Petunia spp.) in flower beds and pots are one of the most popular garden flowers. They are prolific bloomers, and you can find them in just about every color but true blue. They have wide, trumpet-shaped flowers and branching foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky. Within the petunia genus, there is great variety. Most are sold as hybrids and can have single or double blooms; ruffled or smooth petals; striped, veined, or solid colors; mounding or cascading growth habits; and even fragrance.

Petunias are fast-growing plants that will reach full size by late spring. When to plant petunias depends on your area's projected last spring frost date; the plants must not be exposed to any frost. You can keep petunias blooming all summer by giving them enough sun, water, and fertilizer; deadheading the spent blooms; and pruning back scraggly growth. In cold climates, petunias are annuals and only last one growing season. Within their warmer growing zones, petunias will come back every year but still don't last very long—about three years. However, they will self-seed for continued growth.

Common Name Petunia
Botanical Name Petunia spp.
Family Solanaceae
Plant Type Annual, perennial
Mature Size 6–24 in. tall, 6-36 in. wide
Sun Exposure Full
Soil Type Well-drained, moist
Soil pH Acidic
Bloom Time Spring, summer, fall
Flower Color Pink, purple, yellow, red, orange, green, white
Hardiness Zones 10–11 (USDA)
Native Area South America
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Types of Petunias

There are many types of petunias that range in appearance and care needs. Based on their characteristics, the petunia varieties are split into five main groups:

Petunia Care

Petunias like the sun versus shade. However, extreme summer heat with harsh sun can cause a temporary cease in blooming.

The plants will require regular watering and feeding throughout the growing season (spring to fall). And they might appreciate some protection from extreme weather, which can involve moving petunias in pots to a protected area or setting up a temporary cover over petunias in flower beds.

Watch Now: How to Care for Planting Petunias in a Hanging Basket

Light

Most petunia varieties like full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. But in the heat of summer, partial shade (especially from the strong afternoon sun) will help to keep them refreshed and blooming better.

Planting and Soil

Petunias prefer a light, fertile soil that provides good drainage. They can tolerate a variety of soil types as long as they are well-draining. Plus, they like a slightly acidic soil pH. Plant petunias outside after the threat of frost has passed, as the soil must be warm and workable. Plants should be spaced roughly a foot apart.

Water

Like many flowering annuals, petunias don’t like to be dry for long periods. But they also don’t like to sit in soggy soil, which can rot their roots. Plus, too much water can result in leggy plants with few flowers. In general, it's sufficient to soak beds weekly with 1 to 2 inches of water when you don't have rainfall. However, some spreading types of petunias and petunias in pots typically need more frequent and deep watering. Try not to let the soil dry out more than 2 inches down.

Temperature and Humidity

The ideal temperatures for petunias are roughly 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 degrees Fahrenheit to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. They can tolerate temperatures all the way down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but frost and freezing temperatures will damage and ultimately kill the plants. Low to moderate humidity levels are best for these flowers. 

Fertilizer

Feed petunias at the time of planting with a balanced fertilizer. It’s also helpful to work some compost into the soil. Then, starting in July and continuing until the plants decline in the fall, fertilize every two to three weeks with a liquid fertilizer made for flowering plants. Some of the spreading types of petunias need weekly fertilization, so be sure to check your plant’s individual care instructions. 

Pruning

When planting young petunias, pinch back the stems to encourage more branching and a fuller plant. How far back to pinch depends on the plant. If it is a short, stocky seedling, just pinch an inch or less. But if the seedling is gangly, you can pinch back the stem by half.

Propagating Petunias

Petunias can be propagated via stem cuttings. Gardeners often do this if they want to save a particular variety—especially one that’s hard to find at nurseries—and cultivate it indoors over winter until it can be planted outdoors after frost ceases in the spring. Take the cutting from a healthy plant in the fall prior to any frost. Here’s how:

  1. Trim off a healthy portion of stem that’s around 6 inches long. Opt for a green, supple stem over one that’s older and more woody.
  2. Remove foliage from the bottom half of the stem. 
  3. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
  4. Plant the stem in a small container filled with moistened soilless potting mix, and place it in bright, indirect light.
  5. Keep the growing medium moist, and you should have root growth in a few weeks.

How to Grow Petunias From Seed

It's most common to purchase young petunia plants from a nursery. But it can be worth the challenge to grow petunias from seed, especially if you're trying for a particular variety. Start your petunia seeds at least 10 to 12 weeks before your zone's projected last frost date. Here are the steps for planting petunias from seed:

  1. Spread the tiny petunia seeds on top of a moist seed-starting mix. Gently press them down, but do not bury them as they need light to germinate.
  2. Then, cover the container with clear plastic, and put it in a warm spot but out of direct sunlight. You should see seedlings within seven to 10 days.
  3. Once seedlings emerge, remove the plastic.
  4. When the seedlings have three true leaves, they can be transplanted into their own pots until they are ready to be transplanted outdoors.

Potting and Repotting Petunias

Use a quality all-purpose potting mix for petunias. Petunias in pots can be spaced slightly closer than when they're in flower beds for a fuller look. But no more than three plants can go in a container that's 12 inches wide and deep. The container must have ample drainage holes. Any pot material should be fine, but opt for a light color to help prevent the roots from overheating.

It's best to start with a container that can accommodate your petunias' mature size to avoid having to repot. Disturbing the roots during the growing season might hinder blooming. 

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Some pests that might bother petunia plants include aphids, flea beetles, slugs, and snails that feed on the stems and leaves. Often you can just hose pests off the plants with a strong blast of water. But if the infestation is severe and impeding flowering, you can use an insecticide. 

Petunias can be susceptible to fungal diseases, such as gray mold, especially in rainy climates. Opt for a variety that has a higher tolerance for moisture if you live in wet conditions.

How to Get Petunias to Bloom

The primary blooming season for petunias is in the summer, though they can start in the spring and stretch into fall until the temperature drops and frost arrives.

Older petunia varieties typically need deadheading (removing spent blooms) for them to continue blooming at their best throughout the summer. However, many newer varieties don’t require deadheading, though they’ll still benefit from it to maximize their blooms. If you'd like for your petunia to self-seed, leave the spent blooms on the plant. But if you want all of the plant's energy to go toward optimal flowering for one season—which is typically the case if you're growing it as an annual—deadheading is ideal.

Trimming back a leggy petunia plant in midsummer also can encourage fresh, healthy growth, which in turn can produce more branching and blooms.  

Common Problems With Petunias

Petunias are easygoing plants that bloom often, but they occasionally have issues you likely can keep under control.

Wilted Flowers or Leaves

There are a number of reasons for wilted petunia flowers or leaves, but most of the reasons come down to water: too much or too little. Check the soil. If it's not damp, water your petunias. If it's moist, ease up on your watering routine.

Leggy Stems

Petunias often develop leggy stems, but it's easy enough to remedy: Deadhead flowers regularly, and pinch back the stems. If this doesn't help your petunias fill out, you can prune the stems back to 2 to 3 inches long. As the plant regrows, it should be less leggy.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Pentunia (Group). Missouri Botanical Garden.

  2. Botrytis blight outbreaks expected in greenhouses due to weather. Michigan State University Extension.

How to Grow Petunias | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

Petunias are some of the most outstanding bedding plants, thanks to their knack for creating a vibrant mass of colourful summer blooms. Petunias are versatile, ideal for different types of pot or hanging basket as well as in the ground. Originating from South America, petunias are frost tender and make a splendid display through summer and into autumn, often right until the frosts arrive.

Petunias are divided into two main types: compact bushy petunias with an upright habit, and trailing petunias with stems up to 90cm long. Within both groups there's a huge choice of colours and flower shapes to choose from. Colours range from ultra-brilliant pinks, reds, and purples, to soft pastel shades and white. The size of the flowers ranges, too, and you can choose varieties with ruffled edges and bi-coloured blooms, along with single- and double-flowered varieties.

How to grow petunias

Petunias can be raised from seed, bought as small plug plants to grow on, or bought as garden-ready plants. Petunias are tender and won’t tolerate any frost at all, so you mustn’t plant them outside until late spring or early summer.

Petunias need a good rich soil to perform well. In borders, prepare the soil by mixing in plenty of well-rotted compost or soil conditioner, in advance of planting. For pots and containers, petunias do best in peat-free, multi-purpose potting compost. For raised containers like hanging baskets and window boxes that are exposed to drying sun and wind, choose a compost that includes water-holding granules.

More like this

Spacing of petunias depends very much on their growth habit and ultimate size as well as where they are being grown. In pots and containers, plants can be massed close together to produce a spectacular show in a short time. Elsewhere, the smallest compact and upright varieties can be planted 15-20cm apart, bushy petunias with a lax, mounding habit need wider spacing of around 30cm, and trailing ones spaced around 40cm apart.

Before planting petunias outside, harden them off by gradually acclimatising them to the outside over a week or two. When buying garden-ready plants, check if they’ve spent any time outside or whether they’ve been under cover, in which case they’ll need hardening off before planting out.

Where to grow petunias

How to grow petunias - petunias growing with other plants in a hanging basket

Petunias need plenty of sun, a fertile soil, and shelter from strong winds. In hot summers or milder areas of the country, petunias will also do well given a little shade.

The immense versatility of petunias means the growing habit of different types can be matched with almost every type and size of pot and container.

Trailing petunias are ideal for growing in hanging baskets, raised pots, or tumbling over the sides of pots and window boxes. They make unusual and colourful ground cover in borders and can also be planted to tumble down slopes, banks, and from raised beds.

Bushy, upright petunias make superb displays in pots or planted in the ground, as part of a colourful bedding scheme, or to add splashes of vivid colour amongst permanent plants within a border.

How to care for petunias

How to grow petunias - deadheading petunia flowers

Regular watering is important and is vital for petunias growing in pots and containers. The compost mustn’t be allowed to dry out, but at the other extreme, take care not to over-water, either, as this can cause spindly growth. Petunias growing in the ground also need watering during dry spells.

Direct the flow of water onto the soil rather than spraying the plant, to avoid causing sun scorch on the soft leaves and large flower petals. During hot weather, aim to water early in the morning or in the evening, also to avoid scorching.

During summer and early autumn, feed every 10-14 days with a liquid fertilizer high in potash (such as tomato fertilizer). If plants are looking tired come autumn, switching to a high-nitrogen fertilizer can boost growth for the last few weeks before the frosts.

Picking off faded and dead flower heads keeps petunias looking good and encourages more flowers to be produced. Trailing varieties that become straggly later in the season can be lightly trimmed. Feed at the same time which will boost new growth.

How to propagate petunias

Petunias can be grown from seed although they’re not the easiest of plants to propagate. Seed should be sown in late winter at a temperature of 21°C. Light is needed to germinate petunias so don’t cover the seed: sow onto the surface of moist compost and cover with polythene or put in a propagator, to ensure the seed doesn’t dry out. Seedlings need a warm and well-lit growing environment, shaded from direct sun, with a temperature no lower than 13-15°C.

Buying plug plants of petunias can be a good compromise between raising from seed and buying more expensive garden-ready plants. Plug plants are supplied by mail order in early to mid-spring. Pot them individually into 9cm pots and grown on a well-lit windowsill or in a heated greenhouse, only planting out after hardening off and when all danger of frost is past.

Some petunias, principally trailing varieties, can be kept over winter if cut back and brought into a warm environment. If space is limited, root cuttings in late summer, pot up individually into small pots and keep on a windowsill indoors for the winter.

Growing petunias: problem solving

Petunias are largely trouble-free, given the right growing conditions and care. Aphids may occur on the young leaves and stems: inspecting plants regularly and hand-squashing small infestations can stop them becoming established. Otherwise, there are various ready-to-use sprays to combat aphids.

Slugs and snails can be a problem, particularly on petunias growing in the ground. Grow petunias to a good size before planting out as larger plants are much more able to withstand attack. Surround plants with absorbent granules or barriers or use an environmentally friendly bait.

Advice on buying petunias

Where to buy petunias

Petunia varieties to grow

Petunia 'Bingo Red'

Petunia ‘Frenzy Mixed’ is an upright, bushy petunias, bearing masses of plain and striped flowers on compact, upright, bushy plants.

Petunia ‘Phantom’ is an upright, bushy petunia, with velvety black flowers that develop yellow edgings on each petal, giving them a starry appearance. This variety has an upright, mounding growth habit.

Petunia Cascadias series has a range of unusual colours, including ‘Yellow Eye’ (white with a yellow centre), vivid ‘Rim Magenta’, and ’Indian Summer’ that changes colour through shades of yellow and peach. Trailing yet compact, to 50cm.

Petunia Surfinia series is vigorous and free flowering, bearing a profusion of blooms in colours ranging from white and pastels to vibrant primary shades. Up to 90cm long.

Petunia Tumbelina series have beautifully formed, ruffled, double flowers and, unusually, are scented too. Varieties include ‘Anna’ (bright pink with petals edged with white), ‘Priscilla’ (mauve with purple veins), ‘Candyfloss’ (rich pink) and ‘Joanna’ (pale pink). Height 30cm, spread 50cm.

tips for growing and caring for the flower

Due to its unusual beauty, petunia has long been the favorite of most flower growers. Throughout the summer, she decorates flower beds and paths, balconies, verandas and window sills, gardens and parks. Blooming petunia resembles bright fluffy clouds of red-pink, purple, purple, yellow-orange hues, there are also exotic black, blue, maroon varieties. The variety and richness of colors allow you to create delightful compositions even without combining with other plants. Petunia bushes are a self-sufficient decor for suburban areas, urban lawns, terraces and any other areas that instantly become elegant with such landscaping. nine0005

General characteristics of the flower

As a guest from the South American tropics, petunia belongs to light and heat-loving annual crops. Depending on the variety, it can reach from 10 to 100 cm in height, the diameter of the flowers is 5–10 cm. In bush varieties, the stem is erect, and the adult plant has a spherical shape. There are also ampelous petunias with creeping shoots - they are hung in flowerpots, they decorate vertical structures and tall flowerpots with them. nine0005

Abundantly flowering bushes covered with bright flowers, which can be either plain or with contrasting veins, center or border. Varieties of mixed shades look very unusual. As a rule, petunias are characterized by a rich purple-violet palette, but pastel pinkish-lilac, peach, and white tones are also found.

Petunia care

The habitat of petunias in the wild is the equatorial and subequatorial belts, where the countries of Latin America are located (Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina). This is a region with a warm and humid climate. Throughout the year, the air temperature is 30-33C, and never drops below +10C. In such conditions, the plant manifests itself as a perennial, adding brightness to the lower tiers of the tropics, but in areas with snowy winters it has to be cultivated every season. Taking care of the southern guest is not difficult - you just need to know the basic rules and give the plants what they need. nine0005

Growing

Petunia flowers are propagated from seeds, which are themselves extremely small. It is not recommended to sow them immediately in open ground - they almost never sprout in cold ground and without proper care, but they develop well on a sunny windowsill in "greenhouse" conditions.

Seeds are thrown into a container on moistened soil, but do not fall asleep on top. Before the appearance of 1-2 leaves, the container with future seedlings should be covered with a film or a plastic cap, but always transparent so that light remains. After 20-25 days, the sprouts dive into separate cups, and when a real leaf appears, pinch the top to strengthen the stem. nine0005

Feed young seedlings with a weak solution of potassium humate (3-5 drops per 250 ml of water) once a week. After about two months, the plants are ready for transplanting outdoors, but at least a week or two before that, they should be gradually adapted to outdoor conditions, for example, exposing them to the balcony in the morning and evening.

Soil

Petunias need light but well-draining soil. Deciduous-turf land (60%) with an admixture of sand and peat (20% each) is ideal. Acidic soils can be balanced by adding a small amount of lime. If the bush will grow in a pot or planter, it is recommended to make a five-centimeter drainage layer, and add a hydrogel to the soil. nine0005

Fertilizers

Fertilizers are applied when transplanting seedlings outside. It will not be superfluous to add organic matter to the soil mixture - humus, compost or humin, but fresh manure should be discarded. Then you can water the flowers once a week - twice with a light solution of potassium humate, which contributes to the appearance of more buds.

Humidification

Soil moisture should be regular but moderate. Petunias withstand short-term drought and short-term waterlogging during summer rains well, but stagnant water, especially in cold weather, can adversely affect the root system and reduce the decorativeness of the plant. In addition to watering, the ground under the flower should be periodically loosened to provide air access. nine0005

Lighting

Petunias need bright and long-term lighting, so it is advisable to choose sites on the south, southwest or southeast side, avoiding shady and cold corners. This plant is best suited for open areas away from trees, bushes and fences. However, under the visor of the veranda or gazebo, the petunia will develop just as well as under the direct rays of the sun.

Petunia in the flower bed

The colorful and attractive appearance of the petunia determines her solo part in floral ensembles. Any other plants in such a neighborhood are somewhat lost or seem out of place. The only exception is small ground covers, which should be lower and located at the edges of the composition. nine0005

And yet, despite the peculiar selfishness of the tropical guest, flowerbeds with her flowering bushes look unusually bright and visible from afar. You can choose varieties of contrasting or similar colors, playing with the slightest transitions, or painting the landscape with colorful splashes and strokes.

By the way, it is petunias that are most often chosen for decorating non-standard flower beds. They are planted in a variety of objects that can only be filled with earth, be it an old bathtub, a cart, boots or even a bicycle. Also, these colorful and lush bushes play a wonderful role as framing along the edges of paths or ridges, and they also make delicious wreaths around the bases of trees. nine0005

Ampelous petunia

Hanging varieties of petunias are widely used for vertical gardening. In addition to the usual planters attached to balconies, fences, walls, sheds at the entrance to the house, gazebos and summer terraces, there are whole columns and pyramids of flowering bushes. The basis for such structures are special pipes with holes on the sides, which are filled with earth and through which beautiful plants then grow.

Cascading views look very impressive at a height - falling from window sills, arches or flowerpots, they look like amazing waterfalls of fresh flowers. The liana-like branches of such plants can be up to 1 meter long, forming a kind of bright curtains or tropical garlands. nine0005

All in all, petunias are perfect for the most incredible landscaping projects. By their very appearance, these colorful clouds of flowers create a festive mood and add even more brightness to the summer. You can not only plant such an interesting plant in a flower bed or within the facade of the house, but also decorate it with a city park, courtyard, lawn next to the office, cafe or restaurant, shop window. Experiment and the world around will change!

Petunia - photo

Our selection of photographs will show you what the different types and varieties of petunias look like. See, compare and choose! Enjoy watching! nine0005

Petunia (110 flower photos). Planting, care, watering, reproduction at home

Every summer flower beds in gardens and parks, balconies are decorated with colorful petunias. Unpretentious flowers have been known for a long time, their selection was carried out in the 19th century, as a result, numerous types of petunias were born. nine0005

Brief content of the article:

Types and varieties of petunias

The most common type of flower is hybrid petunia, otherwise called garden. Effectively look at large flower beds, borders and rabatka multi-flowered varieties of petunias, spreading like a carpet on the ground.

Their flowers are not large, up to 5 cm in diameter, but the plant blooms profusely, for a long time. The multi-flowered petunia is unpretentious to the soil, calmly endures cold snaps and rain, but loves the sun and heat more. nine0005

Known cultivars of the multiflorous petunias:


Large-flowered varieties of petunias are capricious and demanding on weather conditions. Luxurious flowers reach a diameter of up to 12-16 cm in diameter. They are often used to decorate loggias, balconies, patios. Terry and fringed varieties look especially impressive. nine0005

Grandiflora varieties with large gramophones are highly aesthetic. Known varieties:

In the photo, floribunda class petunias look just as impressive and attractive as in the garden. They are used to decorate large flower beds, flower arrays. nine0005

Floribunda varieties successfully combine the properties of large-flowered and many-flowered plant species. Varieties are resistant to temperature drops, high humidity - and in a rainy cool summer, petunia will delight the eye with a multi-color variety.

Petunias are often used in landscaping. Long flexible lashes from the base to the tip of the branch are strewn with flowers. They are unpretentious in care and are grown both in the garden and for decorating loggias and balconies. nine0005

In a suburban area, ampelous varieties of petunias are often used to decorate alpine hills, banks of water bodies, create spectacular and bright flower beds. Among the popular ampel varieties:

Cascading petunias grow long shoots that hang beautifully down and grow in all directions, due to which the bushes look picturesque. They are ideal for decorating balconies, loggias, gazebos. The most common varieties: nine0005

This is not all varieties of petunias - new ones are constantly being introduced - with double, velvet buds, various colors.

Growing petunias

Most varieties of petunias are grown from seed. Growing petunias from seeds is more labor intensive than from cuttings, but these plants are more hardy in various weather conditions and bloom more profusely. nine0005

Sowing seeds

Seeds are sown in early spring, in February-March. In a warm apartment, you can sow them in early April - then the sprouts will receive enough light, and they will begin to bloom in June.


Proper soil preparation is important for seedlings:

Petunia seeds should germinate at a temperature of +20 degrees, sprouts will appear in about 4-6 days.

If you decide to buy petunia seeds in granular form (in a nutrient shell), you just need to place them on the surface of well-wetted soil. Water from a pan or simply spray the soil, preventing it from drying out. nine0005

Care of seedlings

Sprouts appear in 5-6 days, professional petunia (pellets) sprout a little later - a day or two.


When sprouts appear, the sprouts will need a lot of light, and watering should be moderate, so the film is slightly opened during the day. Picking should be done after the appearance of 3-4 true leaves - about a month after planting.

Top dressing is carried out 7-10 days after picking, using complex fertilizers. For weak bushes, only nitrogen fertilizers are used. nine0005

Petunia seedlings are planted in open ground in May: small-flowered varieties are more resistant to low temperatures, they are transplanted earlier, bushes with large flowers - towards the end of the month.

Good, abundant flowering requires fertile, loose soil rich in nutrients. Therefore, after transplantation, the petunia is fed with nitrogen fertilizer, then, until August, top dressing is carried out regularly, using complex fertilizers with a high potassium content. nine0005

Growing petunias from cuttings

Cuttings are taken from flowering plants in August-September, choosing shoots 6-8 cm long with 2-4 pairs of leaves. The lower cut is made oblique, and the upper cut is straight, 1-1. 5 cm above the nodal connection.

The cuttings are immediately planted in the ground, this must be done no later than 2 hours after cutting, otherwise the plant may not take root or will not bloom. You can cut the cuttings in water, then the process should be slightly longer - up to 10-12 cm. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings, and they themselves are placed in settled water at room temperature. nine0005

Container must be opaque, plastic or metal. After placing the cutting, it is covered with a film and placed in partial shade. After the appearance of the roots, they are transplanted into the ground.

Where to plant the petunia

If the petunia is planted in the garden, it is better to choose an open, sunny place. Bright flowers look spectacular in combination with begonias, marigolds, gillyflowers.

A beautiful flower bed can be created by planting petunia in combination with spring bulbous plants: irises, hazel grouse, hyacinths, tulips - these flowers will be located in the center, petunia will be located along the edges of the flower bed. nine0005

In partial shade multi-colored gramophones can be successfully combined with hosta, tradescantia, ornamental cereal crops.


Petunias are often used to create original flower beds:

Ampelous, cascading varieties are used in vertical compositions decorating arbors, loggias, house walls and window boxes. Blooming in early summer, white or colored petunia gramophones bloom everywhere, delighting the eye with their lush flower caps.

Petunia photo