Happy summer solstice, everyone! And a Flower Friday to boot! We’re not quite as happy about summer solstice as we are winter solstice up north here, but we’ve still got plenty of days with plenty of daylight left!
Today’s Flower Friday is going to be about the garden classic, Petunias! While many growers out there don’t get too excited about them, they are a forever classic for a lot of growers and will find their way into a lot of hanging baskets!
The etymology of the name Petunia is derived from the French word pétun, which basically translates to a derogatory “worthless tobacco.” Although you may not know it, the petunia is part of the nightshade (solanaceae) family, which means it’s directly related to tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and several other varieties within the family.
Native to South America, there are 35 known species of petunias today and they are all hybrids. Though Petunias are thought to have been “officially” discovered in the early 1500’s, it really wasn’t until the mid-to-late 1800’s that there’s been interest in creating interesting hybrids of the petunia. We find it curious that early observers correctly identified the taxonomy of the plant, hundreds of years before planbt systematics was well established.
Some varieties of petunia are rather early blooming, such as this one. Others will take their sweet little time, often producing in early July. Petunias really don’t mind relatively harsh growing conditions, making them ideal candidates for container growing and drought stricken scenarios. Several petunia varieties have received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Many people are of the belief that Petunia’s can’t be grown from seed. It’s difficult to pinpoint when this myth actually started, but we’re of the opinion that it may have originated with the proprietary “Supertunia” brand from Proven Winners. These petunias, while gorgeous and much more varied than most from-seed grown petunias, do not produce seeds within the season. This has made it difficult for gardeners to acquire Supertunia seeds and may have also misled some growers to believing that Petunias can’t be grown from seed.
But, that’s absolutely not true. Petunias can absolutely be grown from seed. They do take some time, so they’re typically sowed 8 to 10 weeks to last frost. You can also propagate petunias through cuttings as well and they have a strong tendency to root fairly well.
Petunias strongly benefit from a practice called deadheading. This is where you pick off the old, spent flowers. This process encourages the flower to put on additional blooms, eventually leading into the spectacular (often hanging) displays that petunias are well regarded for.
Although petunia aren’t commonly grown for culinary or medicinal purposes, they were regarded by Mayan and Incan people as having the power to scare off underworld demons and spirits. It is thought that petunias may have been used in drinks or potions for these spiritual powers. Petunia flowers are technically edible, making them a popular decorative flower to use in culinary decoration. They taste a little sweet, a little spicy and mostly vegetal.
While petunias aren’t the most amazing flower out there, they’re a staple for a lot of growers and on the essential list for many flowering containers. We always enjoy our petunias, enough that they get their very own Flower Friday! We hope you all enjoy your summer solstice!
