When is a petunia not a petunia?
The answer: When it鈥檚 called , , , or Calibrachoa (pronounced kal-u-bru-koa). They鈥檙e part of a group I refer to as designer annuals. They鈥檙e more expensive than flats of familiar annuals since they鈥檙e usually patented and often available only in larger pots.
Which means that if you need a dozen or more to use as bedding plants, they'll be costly. But, despite the price tag, these plants can be useful in the garden. They do have qualities gardeners may feel are worth paying more for.
The problem is, most of us know what to expect from a 鈥渞egular鈥� petunia but not a petunia look-alike such as a . So it may be difficult to decide if they鈥檙e really worth the extra money.
We started seeing these plants in the 1990s, and they鈥檝e become very popular for their low-growing, trailing growth habit.
They鈥檙e also heat-tolerant, keep blooming until cold weather, and 鈥� why I grow them -- don鈥檛 need the old blossoms picked off. I can鈥檛 think of anything duller than deadheading petunias all summer!
In general, these are full-sun plants, perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes, and other containers. They need good drainage. Many will attract hummingbirds, which is a plus.
My experience with this group of plants has been positive. I like them, but am not overwhelmed with enthusiasm. I鈥檓 not sure why. Still, my 鈥済arden鈥� is mostly made up of large containers, so these 鈥渄esigner petunias鈥� are useful. And each year I find myself picking up one or more pots of them.
This year I鈥檝e planted , which is being called trailing petunia. Like some of the others mentioned, it has smaller flowers than traditional petunias. (Think of them as minipetunias.)
But what draws me to this plant is that the yellow of the flowers is a much brighter, clearer color than I鈥檝e ever been able to find in petunias 鈥� and I like that very much.
I鈥檒l report later on how it performs. And I'd be interested in hearing others鈥� experiences with this group of plants.
