The Louisiana Super Plants pick for fall 2017 is the Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunia (Petunia x hybrida “Supertunia Vista Bubblegum”), according to the LSU AgCenter. Given this petunia’s exceptional performance in trials and in Louisiana landscapes, it is the first petunia cultivar to be named a Louisiana Super Plants selection.
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One of the most often used bedding plants in America is the petunia. They are a fantastic option for landscape color and come in a surprising assortment of flower colors, sizes, and growing behaviors.
Petunia integrifolia, which has little violet blooms, and Petunia axillaris, which has huge white flowers, were crossed to create Petunia x hybrida, the contemporary petunias that we cultivate today in all of their astounding diversity.
Petunias are regarded as a summer bedding plant in the majority of the nation; they are often planted in the spring when the weather warms and bloom all summer long. Petunias are not a good choice for summer flowerbeds in this location, though.
When temps rise into the 90s, petunias are not at all content. In the middle to end of the summer, they wane and sag here. To combat this, plant breeders have created petunia varieties that are particularly vigorous and more heat tolerant. The Supertunia petunias are another group of powerful, heat-tolerant petunias. The Wave petunias were among the earliest heat-tolerant petunias.
However, even the heat-tolerant cultivars struggle to survive our protracted, humid summers. They usually take place in July, creating voids in our flower gardens at a time when it’s too early to plant cool-season bedding plants and too late to grow more warm-season ones. Petunias thrive best in this region’s chilly season, which runs from October to May or early June. October to the end of February are considered the planting months.
Petunias are one of the cooler-season bedding plants that can withstand heat better, though. This enables us to plant them right away while it’s still in the 80s during the day. It is not advisable to grow the majority of cool-season bedding plants until daytime highs are consistently staying in the 70s. Because of this, planting petunias now until the fall is a terrific idea.
How about wintertime frosts? Petunias may readily endure Southeast Louisiana’s normal winters because they are hardy down to about 20 degrees. Move petunias in pots to a protected area or indoors if temperatures in the low 20s are anticipated, and cover any newly planted petunias. Cover all petunia plantings if temps in the teens are anticipated.
Comparable to the Wave series is the 2006-released Supertunia series (introduced in 1995). Supertunia has a number of subseries, including Supertunia Charm and Supertunia Mini (both have small flowers on mounding plants).
In comparison to the Supertunia series, the Supertunia Vista series grows more quickly and disperses farther. Supertunia Vista Bubblegum, Supertunia Vista Silverberry, and Supertunia Vista Fuchsia are the three colors available.
Although all three colors function well, landscape testing at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station have shown that Bubblegum functions the best. One of Louisiana’s toughest petunia cultivars, Supertunia Vista Bubblegum has demonstrated consistently exceptional performance. Not only the Hammond Research Station, though. Supertunia Vista Bubblegum has excelled in university trials around the nation, and over the past several years, it has become one of the most talked-about petunia varieties in the business.
Bright, medium pink with darker pink veins characterizes the flower hue. This color blends well with a wide range of other hues and appears gorgeously in landscape plantings. The flowers aren’t particularly big, but they do well in rainy conditions. When in full bloom, the plants literally cover themselves in flowers, and they maintain their tidy appearance without deadheading.
Petunias may handle a small amount of shade, especially in the afternoon, but they bloom best in full sun. Compost should be worked into the top 8 inches of the soil in the beds once they have been properly prepared and enriched. The easiest way to provide the proper drainage that these plants require is on raised beds.
Infinite Vista When fully grown, the strong petunia Bubblegum has a 3-foot spread. It has a height range of 16 to 24 inches. It is recommended to plant the petunias on 18-inch centers when they are mass-planted in the garden bed (18 inches from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next plant). There is less need for plants because of the broad spacing.
Infinite Vista Usually, 6-inch pots are used for the sale of bubblegum plants. Remove the plant from the pot carefully, then place it in the bed with the top of the rootball level with or just above the soil. When planting, use a controlled-release fertilizer as directed on the label. Fertilize these plants twice a month with water-soluble fertilizers administered with a watering can or hose-end sprayer for the best growth and bloom production.
Apply two to three inches of mulch on top of the landscape bed after planting to enhance aesthetics and aid in weed prevention.
The flowering branches and buds of this petunia will spill over the edge of containers and hanging baskets. You can grow these petunias by themselves in a container or alongside other cool-season bedding plants.
Since we get lots of rain, watering plants in beds won’t be necessary too often throughout the winter months, but once the weather starts to warm up in the spring, water as needed on a regular basis. Petunias and other bedding plants benefit from irrigation in the early morning.
During the later part of the growth season, when the plants are larger, the containers are full of roots, and the weather is warmer, plants grown in pots will require greater attention to watering.
One of the most dependable and exceptional cool-season bedding plants for our landscapes is the Supertunia Vista Bubblegum. Try it out; I believe you’ll be impressed.
Bubblegum is what kind of petunia?
A semi-upright to cascading annual or perennial, petunia ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’ blooms from late spring until the first frosts with masses of 2 in. (5 cm) broad, vivid bubblegum-pink flowers that are moderately fragrant. This Petunia, which grows robust and blooms profusely throughout the season, is ideal for the center or front of flower gardens. It works well as a filler or to trail gracefully over the edges in pots or hanging baskets. It is hummingbird-attractive, heat- and drought-tolerant, and great for putting on a stunning display all summer long.
- reaches heights of 12–24 in. (30–60 cm) and widths of 24–36 in (60-90 cm).
- Petunias grow quickly and easily in full sun to partial shade on soil that is moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, and well-drained.
- While classified as an annual in cooler climates, this petunia is perennial in hardiness zones 10 and 11.
- No need for deadheading; self-cleaning. For the optimum summer performance, fertilize frequently. Leggy plants should be pruned back.
Where It Grows
When planted in large groups in your garden beds, hanging baskets, and containers, bubblegum petunias look stunning. You have an almost endless variety of planting possibilities because to their hues and development patterns.
In the thriller, filler, spiller container combination, it functions as either a filler or a spiller. Its exceptional filler and spiller abilities are both influenced by its mounding and trailing habits.
Size
Between 12 and 24 inches tall, 24 to 36 inches wide, and up to 36 inches long, bubblegum petunias can also spread out. It should come as no surprise that it is a favorite among gardeners given all these measurements.
They grow swiftly, so you may start enjoying their blossoms pretty soon. You are able to shape and prune them whatever you like.
Optimal Growing Zones and Conditions
USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 11 are ideal for growing Bubblegum Petunias, although zones 10 through 11 are suitable for perennial growth. Blooms will stay longer in the zones that are warmer.
This petunia blooms in the spring and continues into the fall, so you may enjoy them both. They can resist the sweltering summer heat since they are drought and heat tolerant. Additionally, they don’t need to be deadheaded because they can clean themselves.
Type of Soil Needed
The soil requirements for bubblegum petunias are very minimal; they only need an ordinary, well-draining soil. They can grow in almost any normal soil, however the ideal soil has a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
Light, Water, and Fertilization Requirements
The performance of petunias is best in partial to full sun. Plant your petunias so that they get up to six hours a day of full sun because that’s what this plant prefers.
During the humid summer, give your petunias a regular drink of water. Their ordinary, low-maintenance water requirements don’t call for a lot of attention. As always, you should water your petunias more frequently if they are in pots or hanging baskets.
The best treatment for Bubblegum Petunias is a slow-release medication. For optimal results, fertilize them every two weeks. Keep in mind that these petunias are big feeders and don’t skimp on the fertilizer!
Step by Step Growing Guide
- Choose a location for your Bubblegum Petunias to be planted: a garden bed, a container, or a hanging basket.
- Plant your petunia seedling (or larger) where it will receive adequate light and average, well-draining soil for best results.
- Start watering your plants and putting a slow-release fertilizer on them.
- Enjoy the vibrant flowers of your Bubblegum Petunias for many months to come!
Are bubblegum petunias sun-sensitive?
Each plant requires the following conditions to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), and Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
What distinguishes petunias from Supertunias?
The Tidal WaveTM series of WaveTM petunias can grow up to 22 inches tall, however they were primarily developed to be used as ground covers when they were first launched in the early 1990s. They have the Tidal WaveTM, a large flower with higher plants, the Shock WaveTM, a little flower with vivid colors, and the Easy WaveTM, a spreading variant. The WaveTM Petunia is best utilized as a ground cover because it grows from seed and forms a large, dense root ball that could be difficult for baskets and containers. Long stemmed WaveTM petunias may become overgrown, have bare stems, delayed flowering, and need to be pruned back in the middle to end of the summer in order to promote new growth and flowers.
A more recent variety of petunias called Proven Winners Supertunias come in both single and double blooms with a vast array of colors. Cuttings rather than seeds are used to grow Petunia Supertunia. Supertunias do not produce seed because they do not originate from seeds. Because all of the energy is directed toward flower creation rather than seed production, the Proven Winners petunias are more floriferous. With the exception of Vistas petunias, which have a mounding habit and can grow to be 24 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide, Petunia Supertunia typically stand around 6- 10 inches tall and can spread/trail up to 24-36 inches. Supertunias have shorter stems than WaveTM Petunias, more leaves and flowers, and higher heat and humidity tolerance throughout the sweltering summer months. In comparison to WavesTM, Supertunia petunias are more suited for containers and hanging baskets since they do not produce a root ball that is as large and dense and will remain longer in the container. Additionally, Proven Winners petunias spill less in pots and baskets, making for a more attractive flower arrangement.
We offer a few watering and fertilizer suggestions to ensure that your flowers perform at their peak and endure far into the fall. We advise providing the appropriate amount of feed in addition to daily watering as needed for all annuals and potted plants. We advise feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer once a week while watering often during the hot summer months. Your plants could require a minor “haircut” to maintain their finest appearance during the summer. You could discover that hanging baskets only only a little trimming at the bottom of the pot. You could discover that shaving off a few inches from combination planters can give them a new look. I can’t stress this enough: treat your plants with the same respect you would do a living thing. A plant requires frequent feeding and watering much like a human being does to stay healthy.
What distinguishes a supertunia from a supertunia Vista?
Regular Supertunia petunias fill and spill space in containers with their vivacious habits and somewhat mounded appearance. They are great landscaping plants and work best when positioned close to the front of beds. Their flowers range in size from medium to huge. These plants are smaller than Supertunia Vista, yet they eventually grow to almost match a Vista’s spread. In combination recipes, they serve as spillers and fillers.
Can supertunia seeds be saved?
Although all flowers have inherent beauty, not all flowers perform equally well in our gardens. why not Their genetic makeup holds the key.
People’s genes determine noticeable characteristics like their height and eye and hair color. Additionally, they determine qualities that are more difficult to anticipate, such as our age at which our hair will become grey or our propensity for diseases that are known to be passed down from one generation to the next.
Plant genes function somewhat similarly. For instance, we can infer from the characteristics of a seedling’s plant parents what color its flowers will be. We can also anticipate details like the flower’s size and when it will bloom. Some characteristics, such as whether a plant will generate seeds, are less clear, particularly if they are too small to view. Disease resistance or propensity is another genetic feature that a plant’s parents might pass on to their offspring.
Petunias with enhanced features have been a goal of plant hybridizers for many years, and they have made significant progress.
You might purchase petunia seeds and grow your own using them. Every seed is genetically distinct and includes every characteristic that a petunia may ever exhibit. Plants produced from seed will vary slightly because they are not genetically identical. Petunia seedlings have a natural desire to want to develop, blossom, set new seeds, and then die because their life cycle is finished when they are grown from seed. Unfortunately, the life cycle frequently comes to an end in the middle of summer. At that point, you’ll begin to wonder why your petunias have stopped blooming.
Instead of starting your petunias from seed, you might purchase a pot of already-growing Supertunia petunias. Supertunias do not naturally want to go back to seed because they are not grown from seed. Each plant grows and blooms in a manner that is remarkably constant because of the way it is propagated. Since it doesn’t need to waste energy on making seeds, it uses that energy to increase the number of blossoms and the rate of growth instead. Supertunias bloom all the way from spring to fall because of this. There is also no need for deadheading because their flowers clean themselves and there are no seeds to take out.
Another well-known example of a plant that grows better in the garden when you start with a potted plant rather than seeds is sweet alyssum, commonly known as lobularia.
Sweet alyssum may be grown from seed and will bloom wonderfully until the end of its life cycle, which is usually when the summer heat sets in. When summer approaches, the plants feel it, stop blooming, set seed, and then either die off or lie dormant until colder fall weather.
Since the Princess and Knight kinds of sweet alyssum are not raised from seed, they are not predisposed to returning to seed. Due to their high heat tolerance, they may withstand the summer heat and continue to bloom far into the middle of the fall. Each plant develops and blooms consistently, just like Supertunias do. This is crucial when using a plant like sweet alyssum as an edging for flower beds or walkways where you want all of the plants to have the same appearance.
Just two of many examples of genetically superior annuals that consistently produce improved garden performance are Supertunia petunias and Princess and Knight sweet alyssum. For better results, you could also choose to start with a potted plant of Superbells calibrachoa, Bandana and Luscious lantanas, Laguna lobelia, Rockin’ salvias, Snowstorm bacopa, ColorBlaze coleus, and Superbena verbena.
In comparison to purchasing potted plants of genetically superior plants, seed-grown plants are less expensive. That is something to take into account if cost is your main concern. But if by midsummer you find yourself dissatisfied with your seed-grown plants, think about spending a little extra money on plants that will organically develop and blossom gorgeously the entire season.