Petunias
by Emma Aavang
Petunias are a hardy annual that are available in many different varieties and colors. They do well in almost every location and are usually a good choice for beginning gardeners. These plants will do well in areas with full sun or partial shade, and are heat tolerant as long as their soil has the proper nutrients. They are available in evey color except for orange, and often have unusual color combinations such as red with white edges or purple and white stripes. Petunias will bloom profusely all summer as long as dead flowers are pinched off and will tolerate a slight frost.
There are four main groups when looking at the types of petunias:
1) Grandiflora-
These are the most common types of petunias, with large blooms on plants that can grow anywhere from twelve to sixteen inches tall. The come in both single and double blooms, and produce the largest flowers of the petunias.
2) Multiflora-
While their flower size is much smaller than that of the granidflora petunia, the multifloras have a larger number of flowers, often making them have just as great of an impact in a garden. They are most commonly single blooms, but are available in double blooms as well.
3) Milliflora-
These petunias have the smallest flowers of all, which only grow up to 1- 1 1/2 inches wide. Since they are so much smaller in size, they are often used in containers of borders so that they can be seen and not hidden by other larger plants.
4) Groundcover-
Also known as the wave petunias, these plants are widely used in hanging baskets, window boxes, hillsides, and more where they can grow to hang or spread over two feet long.
Single Blooms-
The most common flower type is easily recognized by the trumpet shaped flower. On single blooms, there is only one layer of petals. Most milliflora, and groundcover petunias come in single blooms.
Double Blooms-
Petunias that have more than one layer of petals. These blooms come on grandiflora and multiflora petunias, and are just as easy to care for as the single blooms.
Wave Petunias-
Petunias that spread over hanging baskets, groundcovers, rock walls, etc. are often referred to as wave petunias. This type of petunia will spread quickly and provide an easy to maintain flood of color.
contact Emma Aavang at emma.aavang@ndsu.edu