Grow a garden filled with the delightful, Wild Petunia flower, from freshly harvested Petunia violacea flower seeds. Wild Petunia is an attractive flowering annual, that develops 1 to 2 inch, magenta colored flowers. It’s trumpet shaped blooms reside at the top of attractive green foliage, which grows to a mature height of about 10 to 14 inches tall. Wild Petunia originates in South America and is the parent of many hybrid varieties available today. It is known to attract an array of beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees & hummingbirds as well.
Categorized as an annual flowering plant in the North and a tender perennial in the south, Wild Petunia will grow quickly from seed in a single season. The plants bloom profusely, later wilting with the first frost. These plants are known to readily self seed at the end of the season, dropping its seed to the bare ground beneath, for fresh plant life to reemerge the following Spring. You can also collect the seeds to store indoors, from spent, dried blooms.
Wild Petunia forms a shorter, sprawled growth habit, trailing low to the ground beneath it. This makes it a perfect selection for pots & containers or window boxes. You might also consider planting Wild Petunia flowers in beds and borders, or even in hanging baskets as well. Mix Wild Petunia with other low growing wildflowers to establish a beautiful carpet of color in the flower garden.
Quick Facts
- Type: Flower
- Color: Pink
- Height: 10″ to 14″ Tall
- Width: 12″ to 18″ Spread
- Season: Annual
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Environment: Full Sun / Light Shade
Sowing The Seed
Wild Petunia seeds can be started indoors, in starter pots, or directly outdoors as well. If started indoors, sow in peat pots, 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost. Peat pots will make transplanting easier by preventing root shock later on, since the entire pot can be placed into the ground. Wild Petunia seeds are tiny and require light to properly germinate, so sowing them directly to the surface of the soil is recommended. Do not cover the seeds.
Growing Conditions
Wild Petunia plants will prefer an area of full sunlight for the majority of the day. They can tolerate some shade, but be aware that this can hinder heavy blooms. Temperatures should be at a constant 70°F to 75°F in the day, with night temperatures staying above 61°F. The soil should be light and well drained To increase drainage, we recommend adding a light compost to areas containing hard, compact soil. Water the seeds daily with a mist setting to ensure that the seeds do not wash away.
Germination & Growth
Your Petunia flower seeds will begin to sprout within the first 7 to 14 days after sowing. The plants will mature to a height of roughly 10 to 14 inches tall, spreading a good 8 to 12 inches wide. The plants can be spaced 12 inches apart from one another. The sprawling growth habit of Wild Petunia makes it an excellent choice for many pots & containers, or hanging baskets & window boxes. They are known to attract all sorts of beneficial insects to the garden as well.