Petunias
THE Petunia is a widely-cultivated genus of flowering plants of South American origin in the family Solanaceae.
The popular, multi-coloured and heavily-scented flower native to Argentina derived its name from the French, which took the word petun, meaning ‘tobacco’, from a Tupi-Guarani language.
Petunias generally have wide trumpet-shaped flowers and branching foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky.
The petunia was discovered in South America by the explorer, James Tweedie, after whom the genus, Tweedia, is named, and who sent specimens to the Glasgow Botanical Garden in 1831.
Most of the varieties seen in gardens are hybrid. Within the petunia family is great variety: Single and double blooms; ruffled or smooth petals; striped, veined or solid colours; mounding and cascading habits; and fragrance.
There are four categories of petunias: Grandiflora, hedgiflora, multiflora and miliflora.
Grandiflora petunias have the largest flowers, up to four (4) inches in diameter. Of all the petunias, these have the widest variety of forms and colours, but are easily damaged by heavy rain.
There are four types of grandiflora, and they are classified by their colours, namely, ‘Daddy Series (shades of pink and purple)’; ‘Merlin Blue Morn (blue and white)’; ‘Supercascade Series (many colours)’; and ‘Ultra Series (many colours, including bi-coloureds)’.
Hedgiflora, or spreading petunias (sometimes called ground-cover petunias) are characterised by their low height (usually about six inches), but a large spread (of about three to four feet).
They will cover a large area, provided they have adequate water and fertilisation. ‘Purple Wave’ was the first introduced cultivar of spreading petunias, and grows to a height of 4 inches.
‘Tidal Wave’ is another spreading type of petunia, but is much taller (between sixteen and twenty-two inches), as is the ‘Surfinia’, which is largely propagated by cuttings. The ‘Opera Supreme’ is a cultivar with large flowers.
Multifloras, compared with grandifloras, are half the size of 2 inches in diameter, and are not easily damaged in heavy rain and can tolerate more sun. Multiflora petunias cultivars include: ‘Carpet Series (many colours)’ and ‘Madness Series (many colours also)’. They spread quickly, and are ideal for baskets.
Millifloras are the smallest of the petunias, and about 1 inch across. These are prettiest when mixed with other plants in containers, along garden beds, and edges. Millifloras are available in ‘Fantasy Series (reds, purples, pinks)’, and are the easiest to find.
The ‘Supertunia Mini Series (blues, pinks, lilacs, purples and whites) is also available in the Milliflora category. They tolerate harsh weather better, when compared with Grandifloras and Multifloras.
Blush-coloured and large double flowering petunias were recently advertised by  the Number OnePlant Shop  on Sheriff Street, Campbelville.
An employee there said that the seeds are imported, and the plants are grown locally. They are easily maintained.
Petunia plants were last week being sold at the said plant shop at $1,000 for three.