Types of Spreading Petunias

Wave Petunias

• Wave petunias were developed in Japan and first marketed in 1995. They are propagated from seed and come in more than 50 cultivars. They grow 5 to 7 inches tall and trail up to 5 feet. Their vigor makes them a good choice for a groundcover or for an all-petunia hanging basket, but they tend to crowd out other plants in mixed containers. Pinch the plants back in late summer to encourage fresh stems and more bloom. Flower colors are pink, lilac, rose and purple.

Petunia Ramblin'

• The Petunia Ramblin’ series by Syngenta Horticulture was bred for cool-season bloom as well as heat tolerance. The plants grow 10 to 14 inches tall and spread 3 feet wide. Because they are day-neutral, they begin blooming in early spring despite the short day length and continue until frost. Colors include purple, lavender, rose, peach, pink, red and white, and the flowers have a slight fragrance.

Surfinia Petunias

• The Suntory company’s entry into the trailing petunia market is the Surfinia series. The plants are raised from cuttings and grow 5 to 7 inches tall and trail to 4 feet. They grow quickly and are self-cleaning, holding up well in rain and wind. Surfinias are disease-resistant and thrive in full or part sun. They come in pink, violet, purple, blue, yellow and white. Pinching the plants early will result in more side shoots.

Cascadia Petunias

• The Danziger Company of Israel produces the Cascadia series of trailing petunias. The flowers on some cultivars are small, while others are large, and the series offers a wide range of colors and bicolors on mounding plants. Cascadias grow 4 to 7 inches tall and trail to 3 feet. They’re known for excellent weather resistance and heavy bloom.

Supertunias

• The most recent arrivals on the spreading-petunia scene are the Supertunias, marketed by Proven Winners. They grow 6 to 10 inches tall and trail up to 3 feet in a mounding habit. Grown from cuttings, they aren’t as vigorous as Wave petunias, making them a good choice for mixed baskets, where they won’t overwhelm other plants. They bloom non-stop all season with flowers in shades of pink, violet and purple.