Petunias

This article was originally published on July 9, 2012 and expired on July 16, 2012. It is provided here for archival purposes and may contain dated information.

My petunias are more beautiful than ever this year. They grow along the wall by our pool in a profusion of pink, white, and purple.

Petunias have been around for a very long time and are a reliable annual flower. They do well in containers and baskets, as well as in flower beds. Petunias need full sun in order to produce abundant blooms. There are four basic types of petunias from which to choose, based on their flower size and growth habit. Within each type there are literally hundreds of different varieties. They are listed below in order of flower size and maintenance levels.

Grandiflora petunias are the most popular and have the largest flowers. The three to four-inch flowers are available as single or double flowers in many colors. They are often frilled or ruffled along the edges. Grandiflora petunias benefit from regular maintenance, including deadheading to remove spent blooms and occasional pinching to prevent leggy growth.

Multiflora petunias are more compact with smaller flowers than the grandiflora types. These petunias burst with lots of blooms all summer long. Massed tougher, they create spectacular splashes of color in the garden. They don't require as much deadheading or pinching.

Floribundas are intermediate between the grandiflora and the multiflora groups. They are free-flowering like the multiflora varieties and produce medium-sized blooms.

Milliflora petunias have the smallest flowers at only 1 to 1½ inches wide. However, what they lack in size they more than make up in number and duration. They rarely need to be pruned back in midsummer to rejuvenate. These do well as edging plants or mixed with other annuals in a container.

The spreading or trailing types of petunias have been popular in recent years due to the introduction of 'Wave' petunias. These are low-growing but spread as much as 3 to 4 feet. They form a beautiful, colorful groundcover because the flowers form along the entire length of each stem. They can be used in window boxes or hanging baskets.

Finally, though not a petunia, the calibrachoa (million bells) has very small petunia-like flowers. This sturdy plant does not need deadheading and blooms profusely all summer long. I particularly like the Dreamsickle variety that I use in blue containers near my pool.

To see different types of petunias growing side by side, visit an All-American Selections garden. The Illinois Central College arboretum in East Peoria showcases over 200 varieties of annuals each summer. University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners assist with the gardens.

Source: Rhonda J. Ferree, Extension Educator, Horticulture, ferreer@illinois.edu

Pull date: July 16, 2012