Petunia

Petunia × atkinsiana · Flower

A cheerful summer bedding plant with trumpet flowers in almost every color. It fills window boxes, baskets and borders and keeps blooming until frost if you trim it back now and then. Trailing types spill nicely over the edges of containers.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun, at least 6 hours

Water

When the top 1 in is dry; daily in hot weather for baskets

Soil

Fertile, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0

Temperature

Best 60–85 °F; killed by frost

Spacing

10–12 in between plants; trailing types 18–24 in

Container

At least 1 gallon per plant; baskets 12 in or wider

Bloom

Blooms late spring until frost

Lifespan

Grown as an annual

When?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants. Plant out once frost danger has passed and nights stay above 50 °F (estimated).

Step by step

1. Press the tiny seeds onto the surface of moist mix without covering; they need light to sprout.
2. Keep at about 70–75 °F; seedlings appear in 7–14 days.
3. Pinch young plants once to encourage branching.
4. Plant out in a sunny spot after the last frost.
5. Feed every 1–2 weeks with a diluted bloom fertilizer, especially in containers.
6. Remove faded flowers, including the small seed pod behind them.
7. Cut leggy plants back by a third in midsummer; they rebloom within a couple of weeks.

Common problems

Pets

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Eating a lot may cause mild stomach upset. If in doubt, ask your vet.

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