Are petunias perennials ? The answer is yes and no , depending on your climate .
Kritsada Panichgul
With loads of blossom in near any color you’re able to care for , including some that are multicolored orlook like the dark sky , genus Petunia are a favourite summer flush for good reasonableness . But arepetuniasperennials , or do you need to replant them each twelvemonth to bask their stunning flower presentation ? The answer is yes and no , bet on how cold it gets where you live .
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
Are petunias annuals or perennials?
Petunias are commonly bear on to as annuals , which is n’t stringently correct . Most gardeners typically grow them as annuals and fling them after the summer season . genus Petunia are not tolerant of rime and are usually only wintertime hardy inUSDA Zones9–11 . Because of this aversion to cold , they are classified as tender perennials — they are perennial , but only in very lovesome areas . A true one-year flora discharge its life cycle in one twelvemonth and then dies .
Categories of Petunias
While we often purchase flats of petunias orhanging basket arrangementsbased on their color , genus Petunia can also be group into five categories based on flower and growth use .
Growing Petunias as Perennials
As tender perennial , petunias will survive for multiple years if conditions are right . However , the winter are too chilly in many arena , causing the petunias to die in autumn .
Gardeners in frost - free zones may be able tooverwinter tender perennialsoutside and revel them again . However , unlike many other perennials , Petunia are n’t long - lived . Even when not killed prematurely by freezing weather , they usually only be for about three long time . In tender climates , they might ego - germ . To grow Petunia as perennial , acquire them in a frost - free location .
Growing Petunias as Annuals
Petunias are most usually grow as annuals andcomposted at the end of the season . While they can be grown from seed , the pick and ease of purchasing young petunia plant at garden centers is unvoiced to beat . A XII petunias can be planted in 10 minutes , creating almost instant color for the entire season .
When selecting petunias , see the growth habit information on the ticket . For garden beds and regular planters , choose tumid - growing miscellany with inadequate stems that retain their upright shape . For hanging basket or achieving that orotund , overflowing flavour in a container , choose drop back or sprawl varieties with long , vining stems .
While some newer hybrids are ego - cleaning , meaning the onetime flowers devolve off by themselves , many varieties must bedeadheaded to encourage continued bloom . If your plans include a hanging basket that will be tough to reach , look for varieties that do n’t take deadheading .
Tips for Growing Petunias
Nothing says summer like a container or hang planter overflowing with brightly colored genus Petunia . Because these plant come in a rainbow of hues , it ’s gentle to make theme designing with them . Want a efflorescence edge or basket with your alma mater ’s colour , for instance ? you could do it with Petunia .
Once you ’ve buy colorful flats of petunias at your local garden center , there are a few things these flora require tocontinue blooming profuselyuntil frost :
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes . Groundcover petunias open rapidly over one growing time of year when they are water and fertilized often .
Yes . you’re able to take cuttings from old plants to produce young plants next year . These cutting can blossom quicker than plants grow from seed .
In most surface area , it ’s best to plant in later spring or other summer . That makes May or June the ideal time to go growing .
