T
The Daily Insight

What is a trailing petunia

Author

Christopher Lucas

Published Mar 17, 2026

Trailing grandiflora petunias produce flowers that are 3 to 4 inches across, sometimes with single petals and sometimes with double petals. … Although the flowers are smaller on multiflora and millifora varieties, they are much more abundant than on grandiflora varieties.

Do trailing petunias spread?

Spreading or Trailing Petunias: These are low-growing and can spread as much as 3 to 4 feet. They form a beautiful, colorful groundcover because the flowers form along the entire length of each stem.

Do trailing petunias come back every year?

Petunias are perennial, although most bedding types are grown as annuals from seed each year. The trailing varieties, such as Surfinias, are perennial and are grown from cuttings or new plants.

How do I know if my petunia is a trailing?

There are basically two types of petunias: upright and trailing. The difference is that upright petunias can reach heights of 12 inches or more. Trailing petunias only reach heights of 4 to 6 inches, yet they trail 2 to 3 feet.

Can trailing petunias be planted in the ground?

Trailing petunias are ideal for growing in hanging baskets, raised pots, or tumbling over the sides of pots and window boxes. They make unusual and colourful ground cover in borders and can also be planted to tumble down slopes, banks, and from raised beds.

Is a petunia an annual or perennial?

Are petunias perennials or annuals? Although they are actually classified as tender perennials, they won’t tolerate frost so they are commonly grown as annuals in most climates.

Is there a difference between petunias and trailing petunias?

Form. Trailing petunias spread farther than the compact varieties. The cascading grandiflora varieties grow just a few feet, but the spreading petunia varieties can cover a huge area in one growing season. The milliflora and multiflora varieties are more compact, filling in and growing upright rather than horizontally.

Do you need to deadhead Wave petunias?

Deadheading Wave Petunias is another way to encourage more blooms on your plant. Although Wave plants naturally do not require deadheading due to their prolific blooming, the occa- sional deadheading will provide an even bigger boost to flower production.

How do you grow trailing petunias?

Trailing petunias need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight if you want to grow long dense trails from baskets and containers. Consider rotating baskets if one area of your garden receives less sunlight. Of course, you can grow them in areas with little direct sunlight but they won’t grow as prolifically.

Do petunias flower all year-round?

Do Petunias Come Back Every Year? Petunias are perennials, however, they are typically treated as annuals. In year-round warm climates, they will often survive and even bloom over the winter months.

Article first time published on

How long does a petunia flower last?

What is this? To tackle the first part of the question, petunias can live for 2 or 3 years but generally behave as annuals because they can’t survive the freezing temperatures of the winter. More on that below.

Should you pinch out trailing petunias?

Advice & Tips for growing Surfinia We recommend pinching out the growing tip of the plug plants at time of planting. This will produce much bushier growth. Pinch just above a leaf joint, aiming to leave 2-3 pairs of leaves if possible.

What is the difference between a wave petunia and a regular petunia?

Wave petunias have a unique trailing growth habit and are highly prolific in their blooming. They drape over the sides of containers and raised beds and are great summer performers. A regular petunia has an upright or bush growth habit.

What is the most fragrant petunia?

Tumbelina Petunias are the original and still the best double, trailing, fragrant petunias. Their carnation-like flowers have masses of gorgeous petals that layer upon each other creating the perfect summer patio display, unlike any other available.

What is the difference between a wave petunia and the supertunia?

Wave petunias are known for their ability to blanket the garden in color and are often used as ground covers or as borders. … Supertunias, on the other hand, are better suited for hanging baskets or container gardens as their long vines reach a length of 3 feet or more.

Do petunias like sun or shade?

Petunias need at least 5 or 6 hours of good sunlight; they’ll perform even better when located in full sun all day. The more shade they receive, the fewer flowers they’ll produce.

What is a wave petunia?

Wave petunias are aggressive ground covering annuals that can be grown from seed —often making these plants the more affordable option. Due to their spreading nature, wave petunias grow great in flower beds and gardens; they can also grow well in pots or hanging baskets.

How many trailing petunias are in a hanging basket?

PlantFlower pouchEezee Hanging BasketPetunia (trailing)88Primrose and Polyanthus1010Sweet Pea (trailing)1012Verbena (trailing, e.g. Peaches and Cream1010

Is Miracle Grow good for petunias?

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food guaranteed bigger, more beautiful plants! It is full of essential nutrients that will make your petunias happy and healthy. This fertilizer is intended to be applied every 7-14 days.

Are there different types of wave petunias?

According to the Ball Company, the Wave petunia family now comes in five different series, and dozens of colors. The series now includes the Wave , Tidal Wave , Easy Wave , Double Wave and Shock Wave series in easy-to-spot Pink Pots at your local garden center or home store.

How long does it take for Wave petunias to spread?

It will most likely take at least 10 to 14 days to see results. Containers and hanging baskets require fertilizer more often–sometimes twice a week in the summer to ensure optimum growth and health. If your Wave Petunias get more overgrown or leggy in your landscape than you prefer, you can cut them back.

Will petunias reseed themselves?

As tender annuals, petunias needs lots of sunshine and adequate moisture, and under the right conditions, they continue blooming all summer long and into the fall. If left to their own devices, they may reseed themselves, but the flowers will be a different color from those of the parent plants.

Should you cut back petunias when they get leggy?

Have you ever asked yourself, “How do I make my petunias fuller?” Preventing leggy petunias requires that you cut back the branches by one quarter or one half on a regular basis. This may be hard to do, as your petunia plant may be in full bloom when you do this. You can cut back all the branches at once.

Can petunias be planted in April?

Set out plants or seed directly summer annuals (cosmos, marigold, sunflower, petunia, etc.). … Summer crops can possibly be planted in late April if it’s warm enough.

What do you do with petunias after summer?

Place it in a sunny window where it will get at least six hours of sun each day, and keep the soil moist but not wet. It will develop roots, and after spending the winter indoors, you can plant it in the garden in the spring. But you can also give winterizing the entire parent plant a go as well.

Why are my hanging petunias dying?

Dying and wilting petunias are usually because of fungal diseases such as root rot, caused by excess moisture around the roots. Petunias require a thorough watering once a week and do not tolerate boggy soil from overwatering which causes petunias leaves and flowers to wilt, and results in dying petunias.

Do petunias like hot sun?

Sunlight. Along with warmth comes light, and petunias like lots of it. They thrive in bright, sunny conditions and should not be placed in the shade. The flowers do tend to become leggy when summer temperatures grow hot for long periods.

How often should I water petunias?

Petunias prefer full sunlight, so be aware, container plants may dry out more quickly during hot weather periods. During such periods the plants require two daily waterings. Bedded plants need water when the top 12-15 cm (5-6 inches) begin to dry. Bedded plants need once-a-week a deep watering.

Do petunias attract bees?

Petunias (Petunia spp.) produce brightly colored, trumpet-shaped flowers on stems that grow 12 to 18 inches long. … While petunias are not as attractive to bees as other flowers, they do attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

What to plant with trailing petunias?

  • Red salvia: Gardeners who are looking for flowering plants to grow as garden borders love to work with this combination. …
  • Daisies: Daisies are other petunia companion plants that are chosen as they have very similar water requirements like petunias. …
  • Lantana: …
  • Snapdragon: …
  • Asters: …
  • Candytuft:

Are petunias good for hanging baskets?

Petunias are perfect for locations exposed to full sunlight. Look for cascading petunias, which include any variety that produces flowers on long, flowing stems. Planting petunias in hanging baskets is a cinch, as long as you use a sturdy container with at least one drainage hole.