Among ornamental plants, one of the places of honor is petunia. Its homeland is Uruguay, but it gained popularity in Europe, where it was imported. Climate and conditions are very suitable for her, so these flowers can now be found in almost every garden.
Petunia is not capricious, unpretentious, and its flowers will be a decoration for any garden. If petunia is not yet growing in your garden, let's consider the most popular species and varieties so that you can find the most suitable ones for yourself.
Did you know? In Uruguayan petunia means “tobacco”.
Petunia: description and variations
In addition to the classic varieties, various hybrids are very popular these days, which makes the choice of plants quite wide. Petunia species can vary in structure, number and size of flowers, but the main thing that made these plants so popular is the variety of flower colorings.
You can find white, ashen, ink, blue, yellow flowers, as well as combinations of two colors for every taste. It is possible to grow petunias anywhere: in pots, flowerpots, on curbs, flower beds - there is a suitable variety for any conditions.
Petunia varieties can be divided into classes that have similar features, but still differ from each other. There are five most popular classes:
- Spray petunias;
- Ampelnye;
- Cascading;
- Petunias Calibrachoa;
- Petunias floribunda.
Popular varieties of bush petunias
Among bush petunias You can find both compact varieties, the size of flowers that does not exceed 4 cm, and large shrubs with flowers more than 15 cm in diameter.
They grow in the form of a bush, which does not require special care, not counting techniques like pinching the top to make the bush more lush. The most popular varieties are:
- Milliflora - compact bush with miniature flowers with a diameter of 3-4 cm;
- Multiflora is a low-growing shrub whose flowers reach 6-7 cm in diameter;
- Grandiflora combines the most beautiful varieties. Flowers reach a diameter of 16 cm, which, coupled with colorful stains, makes it the brightest representative of shrub petunias.
The best varieties of ampelous petunias
Ampel petunias are also called creeping.because they do not grow up, but down. Long shoots of these species are completely covered with flowers, it is believed that they are ideal for planting in hanging containers or pots, but quite often you can see them growing on the ground or flower beds.
Names of varieties in this species are also numerous, as well as bush varieties, however, the following varieties of petunias are obvious favorites:
- The snow queen - the stem reaches a length of 80 cm. The flowers have a delicate pleasant aroma;
- Explorer - has gained popularity due to its long shoots. It is strong, well withstand the wind. The flowers have an unusual wax surface that protects them from the rain, and the color has a varied color palette;
- Catherine is her peculiarity in veined petals. The flowers reach 6 cm in diameter and have a rich salmon color;
- Svetlana - has lush branched stems that can reach 1 meter in length. The flowers are wavy, funnel-shaped, with white lace edges and pink veins. Branched stems grow up to 1 meter;
- Masha - has thick branches, the length of which does not exceed 80 cm. Flowers are 6-7 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped. The petals have a spectacular hot pink color, and the middle is light yellow;
- Ramblin Neon Rose - large-flowered plant whose flowers have purple hues. The bush grows to 35 cm in length, after which the shoots fall. Stems - up to a meter in length, densely covered with flowers;
- Black velvet is a special type of petunia. This is a branchy bush of medium height. It has large flowers, about 8 cm in diameter, but it is distinguished by an unusual color. Petals have an amazingly black color, which gives the flower a velvety surface effect. It looks very unusual and beautiful.
Cascade varieties
For landscape design best suited exactly cascade petunias. They grow large enough shoots that hang down, but at the same time tend upwards and sideways.
The overgrown shrub is a picturesque thickets, takes a lot of space. All cascade petunias have characteristic features, among which are:
- the growth of the stems is directed upwards and sideways;
- ability to grow long shoots;
- flexible thick stems;
- flower medium size.
- Double Cascade is a neat little bush. Refers to the fragrant varieties of petunia. The flowers are large, and terry petals have bright colors;
- Dzhokonda is a highly branching low shrub that is densely covered with flowers. Able to adapt to a wide range of temperatures;
- Ramblin - one of the earliest varieties, a low bush, producing shoots up to 1 meter long. Also applies to fragrant varieties of petunias, flowers of medium size and have a pleasant aroma. Its main feature is a long flowering period.
Petunias Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa is still sold as one of the varieties of petunia in most stores. Until 1990, it was so, in all reference books and books it belonged to the genus Petunias. However, this year it was proved that Calibraho has a different DNA structure.
Did you know? Petunia has only 14 chromosomes, while calibrachoa has 18.
However, this does not negate their similarity. Yes, and in stores this plant is issued for petunia, not with the aim to deceive the buyer, but rather because of the popularity of the name to which everyone is accustomed.
The most popular variety has the name "Million Bells" ("Million bells"). This is due to the huge number of flowers that appear on the plant during flowering. The size of the flowers does not exceed 3 cm, but this “defect” is more than compensated for by their number.
Popular Floribunda varieties
Floribunda resembles many-flowered species, but its flowers are larger, up to 10 cm in diameter. They are resistant to the vagaries of the weather, which makes them most suitable for planting in open ground. 
The varieties of this species are famous primarily for terry buds, which markedly distinguishes them from others.
New varieties of petunias appear regularly, but the most popular type is Sonya Ohrid, whose flowers adorn the contrasting veins. It includes 11 hybrids, which have different colors - from raspberry-pink to blue-violet with a white star.
Now you know what are the varieties of petunias and how they differ. There are many of them and they are different, but one thing unites them: they will all be an excellent decoration of your garden.
