Difference Between a Compact & Trailing Petunia

Compact

• Both multiflora and milliflora petunias are considered to be compact in nature. The term “compact” refers to their bunching, short growth habit and small spread. Multiflora have a medium-sized flower that is prolifically produced over the whole plant, at times completely concealing any greenery. Milliflora are the smallest of the petunias, with the small plants producing large numbers of miniature flowers. These flowers are rarely more than an inch or so in diameter.

Compact Uses

• Multiflora types of petunias are often used in clusters, a practice called “massing.” By massing the plants together in a garden, you create a stunning mound of color. Milliflora plants are well suited for use as edging plants in the garden to create bright borders, or for use with other plants in containers. Space milliflora plants four to six inches apart, and multiflora plants about 12 inches apart.

Trailing

• Marked by their tenacious reach, trailing petunias send out endless flowering stems in an effort to expand their diameter. The best known of the trailing varieties is the Wave petunia. They have small flowers and are considered to be lower maintenance than other petunia types. Grandiflora, the largest of the family, also have a trailing growth habit that makes them ideal for hanging baskets. Other trailing petunias are also classed as ground covers, since they continuously send out creepers and are able to rapidly fill empty garden space.

Trailing Uses

• The best use for a trailing petunia is as a container plant, either in a standing pot or hanging basket. Since grandiflora varieties are capable of producing 3 feet of stem in a season, take this into consideration when choosing your container. They may also be planted in flower beds, spaced about 12 inches apart. Ground cover petunias require an 18-inch spacing in order to thrive. Wave petunias should be spaced according to package instructions, with spacing ranging from 12 inches up to 24 inches. Trailing petunias spread more than the mounding, compact varieties.