Description and characteristics of petunia varieties, classification of species and colors
Petunia has become a favorite of flower growers due to its unpretentiousness, a variety of colors of delicate petals. Due to the fact that there are many varieties of petunias, you can choose the appropriate option for decorating the garden plot, the local area. Just a few plants in a flowerpot will become a bright decoration of the garden, at home, and will bring a good mood for the entire summer season.
Petunia: briefly about the flower
The genus petunias belongs to the Solanaceae family. The name of the flower is translated from Brazilian as "tobacco". When the plant was discovered in the 18th century, its leaves were confused with tobacco leaves. The native land of petunias is the forests of South America. Weak plant stems branch well. The rod-type roots are close to the surface of the earth. A feature of the flower are creeping, erect, undersized stems. There are varieties with high shoots. The shape of the light green leaves of petunia depends on the type of plant. They sit tightly or on petioles on stems covered with delicate hairs.
An ornamental culture is valued for its funnel-shaped flowers with an upward-expanding socket of the petals. The edges of the fused petals are wavy, even, corrugated. The color of the flowers is striking. The predominant is the white, red, blue gamut of the background, on which there can be stripes of contrasting color.
Petunia blooms all summer, delighting with splendor, luxury of shades. In autumn, the fruit is formed in the form of a box with small seeds.
Classification of varieties of petunia
Known for over 200 years, petunia is classified by the shape of the bush. There are plant varieties:
- bush;
- ampelous;
- cascading;
- calibrachoa;
- floribunda.
And the structure of a flower in each species can be simple, with double or corrugated petals. Petunias with large and small buds are bred. There are varieties with monochromatic or two-color petals, fantasy ones.
Bush varieties
The main feature of the widespread subgroup of petunias is colorfulness, variety of varieties. Bush petunia is suitable for decorating flower beds, flower beds. It is used for planting in flowerpots, boxes, hanging pots.
Milliflora
The petunias of this group are strikingly small in size. They are 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter. But there are so many of them on the stems that they create a bright carpet on the flower beds, serve as an excellent frame for paths, flower beds. The advantages of the species are unpretentiousness, abundance and duration of flowering.
Multiflora
The undersized stems of petunias are covered with a lot of flowers.In diameter, the inflorescences reach 5 centimeters. They are grown so that compact bushes decorate the site from May to October. Plants are not afraid of cold weather with rains, as well as dry and hot.
Grandiflora
A species of petunia has been bred in order to amaze with the beauty of flowers. The group includes undersized with a stem height of 25-30 centimeters, tall - 50-70 centimeters. Branched stems have few flowers, the sizes of which reach from 8 to 13 centimeters. Double and simple petals will decorate balconies, loggias, verandas, terraces. Delicate flowers are afraid of heavy rains, cold winds, so they need shelter during the growing season.
Ampel hybrids
In ampel petunias, the shoots go down, leaving the middle open. Therefore, they are planted in hanging pots, gazebos are decorated with them. You can create a living wall from the bright colors of this group. Combining options with different colors, they get amazing floristic forms.
If hybrids are planted in a flower bed, then they grow so much that they cover all the bald spots in the flower garden. Ampelous petunias look interesting on alpine slides, a green lawn.
Semi-ampel varieties
The difference between this group and ampelous varieties lies in the peculiarities of the growth of petunias. The plant first stretches upward, and then the stems begin to bend. Therefore, there are many flowering shoots in the center, but they do not descend along the walls of the pot. They use the semi-ampelous version in flowerpots standing on the ground, on the floor. Small hanging pots and baskets are chosen for them.
Surfinia varieties
This subtype of ampelous flowers is the most attractive. The beauty of the decorative culture is varied. The buds resemble a gramophone in shape, their diameter is within 8-9 centimeters. The petals have a pure color, but the throat is darker in tone. The hybrids bred by breeders differ:
- vitality;
- vigor when the stems reach a length of 2 meters;
- powerful root system;
- the ability to withstand weather cataclysms.
The peculiarity of surfinia is that it cannot be propagated by seeds, only in a vegetative way.
Light wave
Easy to grow petunia is exceptional for the compactness of the bushes. The stems form a domed crown during the flowering period. Looks beautiful in outdoor flowerpots, small pots, suspended at eye level. The bushes grow on the flower beds, forming a flowering carpet of 1 square meter in area.
It develops well in containers, when 1 plant has up to 7-8 liters of soil. It blooms more intensively when the ampelous variety is fed, wilted buds are removed in time. The colors are used to create compositions that are monochromatic or contrasting in shades. They grow so densely that no green stems and leaves are visible.
Pearl surf
The ampelous annual falling in a wave is completely covered with delicate flowers. Shoots descend in a waterfall, reaching a length of 1 meter. A graceful flow of flowers will decorate balconies and loggias.
Waterfall
Petunia of this variety blooms before early frosts. The stems of the hybrid are highly branched. Therefore, it is chosen for ampel gardening. Densely double inflorescences with a diameter of 10 centimeters persist for a long time. The variety gets along well in flower beds with verbena, marigolds. Petunia begins to bloom early if planted after frost. For him, nutrient soil is important, light, well-drained. The place prefers a sunny plant, sheltered from the wind.
Multi-flowered varieties
The group of multi-flowered petunias is famous for its rich scattering of inflorescences. The stems of plants are strewn with small buds so that the green leaves are not visible. A plant variety blooms earlier than other species.
To create compact bushes, they are pruned, giving the desired shape. The color range of petunias is diverse. There are monochrome and variegated specimens.Spring frosts do not tolerate multi-flowered varieties.
Charm
An annual with flowers 5 centimeters in diameter is used for planting in flower beds, in flowerpots for decorating balconies. The bush branches well, reaching a height of 25-35 centimeters. The plant is actively developing at a temperature of 16-18 degrees. Better to grow through seedlings, sowing petunias in April. The variety blooms from July to September, preferring light, drained soils, sunny open places.
Mirage
The variety of multi-flowered petunia is represented by a variety of petal colors. Forming several inflorescences at once, the bush looks like a luxurious bright bouquet. The advantage of choosing a hybrid is its resistance to any weather. The plant tolerates cold weather and blooms until frost.
Prime Time
Flowers have a diameter within 6 centimeters, and the height of a compact bush is 30. The plant is multi-flowered. Blooms profusely, magnificently, starting in June. The flower buds are blue, light blue, dark purple, pink and burgundy. There is a mix of colors. Flowers are decorated with white rays coming from the center to the edges of the petals.
Duo Summer
The compact petunia has many large double flowers. Stems up to 35 centimeters long. The color scheme is pink with red veins. A hybrid plant is used to decorate flower beds, flower beds, loggias, verandas. The proximity of the variety with verbena, pelargonium, marigolds is favorable. It begins to bloom from June to September frosts. The place for the plant is chosen open, protected from cold winds.
Tart Bonanza
Terry multicolor is ideal for decorating garden beds, balcony boxes. Ornamental culture blooms in June, continuing to delight with an abundance of buds until September. The peculiarities of the hybrid are:
- photophilousness;
- drought resistance;
- low exactingness to the ground;
- resistance to temperature drops.
Despite all the advantages, the plant does not tolerate frost. It is necessary to cover plantings during returnable spring frosts.
Plum Crystals
A hybrid originally from the Netherlands, it is distinguished by a compact bush with stems 30 centimeters long. Large flower petals change color from bright lilac to pale, decorated with a network of purple veins. The variety begins to bloom in June, ending in October in the absence of frost.
Dwarf, or undersized varieties
The group of petunias includes hybrids with a stem height of up to 25 centimeters. It is best to use flowering bushes for planting as borders. They look good in hanging compositions, pots, boxes on the balcony. From the best varieties of a group of low-growing plants, it is better to choose Pirouette, Sonata, Adviser.
Cascading
Improved ampelous hybrids will be a decoration of a waterfall of flowers and leaves. Their dense stems are long that hang along the wall of the terrace, verandas from top to bottom. Annuals are unpretentious in care, are valued by designers for the brightness of the color scheme.
Niagara
The flower belongs to the super-cascading. With its stems half a meter long, it forms a real waterfall of bright green leaves and large flowers of blue, blue, lilac color. Large-flowered petunia is necessary to decorate the veranda, at home. It is used in the decor of a resting place, creating living flowering walls.
Double Cascade Plum Wayne
An early flowering hybrid forms buds with a diameter of 13 centimeters on shoots up to half a meter long. Outwardly, double flowers resemble a garden carnation. The plant is demanding on mineral fertilizers, watering. With well-organized care, flowering will be more abundant and lasting.
Terry
The group of terry petunias is most popular for the beauty of the crimped petals. Their exquisite ruggedness, splendor enchants. The luxury of flowers is combined with the unpretentiousness of the type of decorative culture. Breeders have bred many varieties of terry petunias.
Angora
A profusely flowering petunia with stems of 40 centimeters and gramophones of buds 7 centimeters in diameter is a true queen among horticultural crops. Delicate pink shades of flowers look beautiful on flower beds, in flowerpots. The advantages of choosing a variety are its unpretentiousness, resistance to winds and showers, and the duration of flowering.
Artist
The hybrid is represented by a mixture of terry flowers of various colors. Flowers on compact, medium-sized bushes are large with an abundance of petals. The plant develops well in lighted areas, protected from wind and drafts. A nutritious light soil is needed for better flowering of the hybrid, then the first buds will appear in June.
Duo F1
Terry flower balls on dense branched stems are grown in flower beds. Exotic flowers in contrasting shades from burgundy to white generously endow with their beauty throughout the summer. The hybrid is easy to care for, it can quickly recover from heavy rains, cold nights.
Sonata
A hybrid with lush branched stems. The flowers are snow-white, luxurious, with wavy petals. The buds are up to 8-9 centimeters in diameter. The hybrid blooms for a long time, all season. The advantages of the variety include disease resistance, good drought tolerance.
Double Cascade
The wavy flowers, similar to carnation buds, have a bright color. There are varieties of dark blue, pink, lavender tones with dark veins. The stems of the variety are 35-38 centimeters long, branching strongly. Petunia bloom begins 2-3 weeks earlier than other varieties.
Pirouette
In this series of terry varieties, the petals are heavily indented and collected in fluffy balls with a diameter of 10 to 15 centimeters. Dark pink petals are bordered by a white stripe. Thanks to the unusual coloring, the hybrid looks elegant on the flower beds, lawn. Powerful bushes branch strongly, creating a spectacular carpet in flower beds.
Color variety of colors
Petunia is one of the decorative crops that pleases with its variety of petal colors. You can create snow-white, blue flower beds from flowers. And how luxurious are the domes of terry petals in dark tones from burgundy to purple, almost black.
Green
Varieties of light green shades will fit perfectly into any flower bed. They can be used to create a single-color border. Interesting varieties:
- Sophistry Lime Green has a delicate petal color. Flowers are simple in shape, but delicate and unusual.
- Green Age Lime is a terry petunia type with flowers 6-7 centimeters in diameter.
Green petunias are rare, since they do not retain their qualities during reproduction.
Red
The color is suitable for creating strict flower beds or joyful carnival. Ampel hybrid Ramblin Red with scarlet flowers will adorn the site in summer, creating a good mood. Cascading stems with flower buds can decorate the veranda, the entrance to the house.
The Duo Baroque variety with a noble dark red tone on wavy large petals suits the strict classical architecture of the site.
Petunia Cinderella will delight with small flowers, collected in a large ball. It is designed for growing in flowerpots.
Pink
This shade is typical for wild plant species. The range of colors ranges from pale pink to deep purple. Large-flowered hybrid Pirouette Rosa with an uneven color is interesting for its appearance. In the middle, the petals are of a dark pink hue, towards the edge they become paler.
Picobella Pink star as bright as caramel. The petals are decorated in the middle with a white stripe. Variety Rose sky refers to delicate petunias with a simple flower shape. The uniformity of the color of the hybrid is pleasing.
Orange
Unusual color in flowers:
- Gioconda ampelous;
- Amore myo orange with a dark center, jasmine aroma.
Hybrids are planted on balconies, at the entrance to the house, on the veranda.
Blue
Plants of solid color with sky-colored buds look beautiful in a flower bed. The Aladdin variety is famous for its sky-blue double flowers. Deddy Blue has large, ash-colored flowers with blue veins extending from the dark center. Hybrid Blue Sky resembles bells with its miniature flowers.
Blue
With white and pale pink petunias, Limbo Blue hybrids with dark blue buds are combined perfectly. Hulahoop Blue has an unusually bright clean color. The flowers are large, and therefore, in the flowerbed, together with other petunias, they create the dance flavor of the southern night. Ampelous Belinda has a lot of lush blue balls, similar to a blooming ball of even pure color.
Yellow
Harmoniously light shades are combined with dark varieties of petunias. Among the pale yellows, you can choose the Avalanche Yellow Star. On the sides of the petals there is a light color, towards the middle it becomes darker.
Dolce Limoncello has large flowers of a light lemon color. The petals of the Sunny summer hybrid are evenly yellow.
Purple
You can highlight the petunia with purple petals Bravo Lavender. The variety has large flowers of even color. Cascade Plum Wayne is lilac in color. And Violet Dream is famous for its inky purple petals.
Hybrid
Dark-colored varieties are rarely obtained, so such experiments are highly valued by breeders. The Black Cherry variety has unusual dark-colored flowers. Black velvet is valued for the texture of the petals, the unusual color.
Pure white hybrids are represented by the ampelous petunia Explorer. And Surfinia Double White attracts with fragrant double flowers of a pale white color.
