Petunia

Petunia is an accepted genus in the nightshade family, native from Bolivia through southern South America and southeastern and southern Brazil. Its species range from annual or perennial herbs to occasional shrubs, with erect-to-sprawling forms and large, showy, funnel-shaped flowers in varied colors. [Kew’s Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331845-2/general-information) describes the genus and its variation. ## Flowers and form Petunia flowers may be white, pale yellow, red-purple, violet, blue, or variegated. Common garden petunias are cultivated for bedding and containers, while hybrid forms range from upright mounds to long trailing stems. The genus as a whole is more variable than any one garden hybrid. ## Siting For common garden hybrids, choose full sun to partial shade and light, well-drained soil. Petunias suit border fronts, massed beds, hanging baskets, window boxes, and patio containers. The [North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/petunia-x-hybrida/) notes that bloom performance declines in heavy shade and that hybrid growth habits and spacing vary. ## Maintenance Water garden hybrids regularly while they establish and during dry weather, without leaving roots in saturated soil. Pinch back leggy growth and remove spent flowers to encourage a bushier shape and continued flowering. These cultivation notes describe common garden hybrids; other Petunia species can have different needs.