Many Petunias to Choose From
Petunias are tops for summer color. The familiar, sweetly
scented, funnel-shaped blooms come in almost every color
imaginable, in single- and double-flower forms, and even multi-
colored, striped or finely veined. Petunias bloom from the last
frost in spring until the first frost of fall, offering one of
the longest seasons of any annual.
What many people don't know is that there are several types of
petunias to choose from, varying in flower size and plant habit.
Here are the common classes of petunias.
Grandifloras bear the largest flowers, reaching up to 6 inches
across. Most are single. Plants grow 14 to 28 inches high. Some
strains, such as 'Supercascade' have trailing habits.
Multifloras or floribundas, as they are sometimes called, have smaller flowers (about 2 inches across) but produce more blooms
than grandifloras. Their compact habit makes them excellent when
planted en masse and in pots.
Millifloras produce tiny flowers (1-2 inches) on compact, dwarf
plants that rarely get over 8 inches high and wide. They are
very generous bloomers and perfect for containers and hanging
baskets.
Trailing Petunias are newer and particularly versatile. The
sprawling plants can spread up to 6 feet across but only reach
about 6 inches high. They cover themselves with 2- to 3-inch-
wide flowers and are ideal for pots, hanging baskets, cascading
over the edges of walls or climbing up a trellis.
Plant petunias in full sun and well drained soil. Water and
fertilize regularly. Cut plants back if they get leggy. If
insects like tobacco budworm feed on blooms, spray with Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray or Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray.
Products Mentioned In This Article
Bayer Advanced
