If you’re looking for a burst of color and charm in your garden, petunias are one of the best flowering plants you can grow. Known for their vibrant blooms, long-lasting flowers, and versatility in both beds and containers, petunias come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and growth habits. Whether you prefer trailing flowers for hanging baskets or upright mounds for borders, there’s a petunia variety for every space. Here are 6 stunning types of petunias to instantly make your garden pop.
1. Grandiflora Petunias
Grandiflora petunias are celebrated for their large, show-stopping flowers that can reach up to 4 inches in diameter. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns, including solid shades, bi-colors, and veined varieties. These petunias thrive in sunny garden beds and large containers where their oversized blooms can truly shine. While they offer incredible beauty, they are best suited for areas with less frequent rainfall, as their large petals can be easily damaged by heavy rain. With regular deadheading and well-drained soil, Grandiflora petunias deliver a season-long display of color.
2. Multiflora Petunias
Known for their abundant, smaller blooms, Multiflora petunias are tougher and more weather-resistant than their Grandiflora cousins. Their flowers typically measure about 2 inches across and appear in dense clusters, creating a lush, colorful carpet effect. These petunias are ideal for sunny garden borders, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Available in an impressive range of shades from classic pinks and purples to bright reds, yellows, and whites, Multiflora petunias thrive in hot, sunny spots and continue blooming from early summer to frost with minimal care.
3. Milliflora Petunias
If you love petunias but have limited space or prefer a delicate, refined look, Milliflora petunias are a perfect pick. These compact plants produce miniature blooms about 1 to 1.5 inches wide and are ideal for edging, small containers, or hanging baskets. Despite their small size, they deliver impressive color impact with prolific blooms in shades like lavender, white, magenta, and deep purple. Milliflora petunias are heat- and rain-tolerant, making them an excellent low-maintenance option for gardeners looking for continuous, fuss-free color.
4. Wave Petunias
Wave petunias are one of the most popular and versatile types, prized for their vigorous, spreading habit and ability to cover large areas quickly. A single plant can spread up to 4 feet wide, producing a dense blanket of blooms in vibrant hues like purple, pink, white, and blue. These petunias are perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes, or ground covers where their trailing nature creates a cascading effect. Easy to grow and requiring minimal maintenance, Wave petunias are heat-tolerant and known for their long-lasting, abundant flowers.
5. Supertunia® (Proven Winners Series)
Developed by Proven Winners, Supertunia® petunias are hybrid varieties bred for outstanding performance in both garden beds and containers. These petunias boast large, vividly colored blooms, strong trailing habits, and exceptional disease resistance. Available in a spectrum of colors and patterns, including striped and bi-colored options, Supertunias® bloom continuously without the need for deadheading. Their versatility makes them suitable for hanging baskets, mixed planters, borders, and even ground covers. With excellent vigor and resilience in heat and humidity, Supertunias® have become a favorite choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
6. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Often referred to as “Million Bells,” Calibrachoa looks like a miniature petunia but is technically a separate species closely related to petunias. These compact plants produce an abundance of small, petunia-like flowers in a dazzling array of colors, including purples, yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds. Perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers, Calibrachoa plants offer nonstop blooms from spring to frost with minimal upkeep. They’re self-cleaning, meaning no deadheading is required, and they handle heat and rain well. Their trailing growth habit makes them ideal for adding a cascading splash of color to your garden.
Final Thoughts
Petunias are a garden classic for good reason — their endless variety, stunning colors, and easy-growing nature make them a go-to for flower lovers everywhere. From the dramatic blooms of Grandiflora petunias to the carpet-like spread of Wave petunias and the delicate charm of Millifloras, these six types offer something for every garden style and size. Mix and match different varieties in your beds, baskets, and containers to create a dynamic, colorful display that blooms throughout the season.
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