Description of a Petunia

Multiflora

• Multiflora petunias are known for their vigorous growth habit and abundant, colorful blooms. The profuse, 2-inch, smooth-edged flowers recover well from seasonal storms and are fairly tolerant of full sun and high heat, though they do tend to droop during periods of dry weather and must be deadheaded to encourage blooming and maintain an attractive flower bed.

Grandiflora

• Grandiflora petunias have fewer flowers than multifloras, but their blossoms are larger and bear showy, fringed or ruffled edges. The lively 4- to 5-inch blooms are beautiful to behold, but they're not well-suited to areas known for inclement weather, because the delicate flowers and fragile foliage are easily damaged. Accordingly, care must be taken when removing spent blooms.

Floribunda

• Floribunda petunias are a cross between grandiflora and multiflora types. The result is a plant that produces numerous 3-inch flowers that recover well from mildly unpleasant weather or short periods of unfavorable climatic conditions. As with grandiflora and multiflora, they require routine deadheading for maximum flower production.

Milliflora

• Milliflora petunias bear dense, bushy foliage and clusters of petite flowers. These heat-tolerant plants don't need pruning or deadheading to remain in bloom, producing wave after wave of eye-catching 1-inch blossoms. Their compact growth habit is particularly well-suited to container culture, and as a result, this type of petunia is often found flourishing in window boxes, hanging baskets and flower pots.

Hedgiflora

• Hedgiflora petunias spread rapidly and bloom continuously from late spring to fall's first frost, covering the yard with a colorful carpet of fragrant flowers and ground-hugging foliage all summer long. These robust annuals do not require deadheading to look good; cutting them back once or twice during the growing season will result in denser foliage and encourage the production of new blooms.