Petunia
Petunia × hybrida
flowerA warm-season annual producing masses of ruffled trumpet flowers in every color from white through lavender, purple, red, pink, yellow, and bicolors. Long-blooming, easy to grow, and one of the best flowers for summer containers, hanging baskets, and garden borders. Also an effective trap crop for aphids and thrips near vegetable beds.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Bloom
~80 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
tender perennial
Perennial in warm zones; grown as an annual where winters freeze
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Spacing
12-18 in
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Planting Depth
1/16 in (barely cover; needs light to germinate)
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Soil pH
5.5-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
When to Fertilize
At planting; balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks throughout the growing season
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 every 2 weeks; high-potassium formula promotes heavy bloom
🌱 Growing Guide
Start indoors 10 to 12 weeks before last frost — petunias are slow from seed. Purchase transplants for easiest results. Plant in full sun after last frost. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to maintain heavy flowering; or choose self-cleaning varieties. Fertilize regularly — petunias are heavy feeders. Pinch back leggy plants by one-third in midsummer to rejuvenate flowering through fall.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 4
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first bloom
Jul 18
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Tomato — Petunias repel certain tomato pests including asparagus beetles and tomato hornworm
- Pepper — Aromatic compounds in petunias said to deter aphids from pepper plants
- Beans — Deters Mexican bean beetle when interplanted in bean beds
- Most vegetables — Trap crop for aphids and thrips that draws them away from vegetable crops
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Water blast; insecticidal soap; petunias often serve as a sacrificial trap crop for aphids
Bt spray when tiny caterpillars are feeding on buds; destroy affected buds
Diatomaceous earth; beer traps; handpick at night
Deadhead promptly; avoid overhead watering; ensure good airflow
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Petunias are not harvested for food but can be cut for short-lived flower arrangements. Cut stems are best used as fillers in mixed arrangements — vase life is 3 to 5 days. Keep deadheading spent blooms to maximize flower production through the season. For dried use, petunias do not hold up well; use as fresh flowers only.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
As a companion plant: effective trap crop for aphids, thrips, and budworm that draws these pests away from vegetable crops. Attracts sphinx moths (hawk moths) as pollinators at dusk, and hummingbirds to red varieties. The abundant blooms provide nectar for butterflies and bees throughout summer.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.