Petunia, Multiflora Petunia 'Primetime Violet Star'

Petunia
'Petun' means 'tabacco' in South American Indian dialect, and petunias are indeed relatives of the tobaccos (Nicotiana); t...Read Moreheir leaves have a similar narcotic effect on humans, and both genera belong to the same family as potatoes (Solanaceae). There are around 35 species in the genus, occurring in warmer parts of South America, including annuals, biennials and shrubby perennials. They have dark green, rather hairy, smooth-edged leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in white, purple, red, blue, pink, or mixed hues. It is doubtful whether any other group of garden annuals has been the subject of such intense selection by plant breeders over such a long period as the petunias have been. Interestingly, from what they have revealed of their work, it seems to have been concentrated almost entirely on the one hybrid combination (Petunia x hybrida).
Cultivation:
The garden petunias are frost-tender plants always grown as annuals and are popular worldwide as bedding plants and for window boxes, hanging baskets and planters. Fairly fast growing, they like well-drained, fertile soil and a sunny location and thrive where summers are hot, although they do need shelter from wind. Flowers of some of the larger Grandiflora hybrids are damaged by rain but others, mainly the Multiflora hybrids, are more resistant. Sow seed under glass in early spring, or plant purchased seedlings at beginning of summer. Fertilize every month until flowering is well advanced. Pinch back hard to encourage branching and deadhead regularly. Watch for cucumber mosaic and tomato spotted. wilt.
Petunia x hybrida
Believed to have originated as a cross between the white-flowered Petunia axillaris and the pink to purple-flowered P integrifolia. the garden petunia was a well-known bedding plant in Europe by the middle of the 19th century. From an early stage, the garden petunias were divided into 4 groups of cultivars and seedling strains, designated by Latin names, and this classification still survives. The 2 most important groups are the Grandiflora and Multiflora petunias both with plants around 12" tall at maturity. Flowers of the former are very wide and shallow, scattered over the somewhat sprawling plants, while Multifloras are more compact in growth with densely massed and somewhat narrower blooms.
Zones 9-11