11 Top Varieties of Petunias

By
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing.
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Updated on 02/06/21

If your great-grandma grew heirloom petunias, she wouldn’t believe the diversity of modern varieties that breeders have achieved with this annual garden favorite. From their discovery in South America in the late 1700s to the modern F1 hybrids and Supertunias of today, this flower has captivated gardeners for centuries. Even if you haven’t sorted out your Grandifloras from your Cascadias, you'll find a petunia just right for you.

Petunias are tender perennials normally grown as annuals in every climate, although, in zones 10–11, they're reliably hardy. There are about 20 species in the Petunia genus, all native to South America, but those grown as garden plants are almost always hybrids, most derived from P. axillaris and P. integrifolia. Petunias are often classified according to their form by terms such as Grandiflora (large flowers), Multiflora (smaller, more plentiful flowers), Wave (spreading), Supertunia (larger than wave petunias but with a similar spilling growth habit), Cascadia (long, pendulous stems), and Surfinia (trailing stems with small bell-shaped flowers).

Although there are hundreds of excellent petunia cultivars to consider, these 11 striking hybrids are sure to please.

Gardening Tip

Even a large garden center is likely to carry a relatively small number of hybrid petunias each year. To grow the more unusual varieties—including some of the hybrids described here—you'll probably have to purchase seeds online and start them indoors 10–12 weeks before the outdoor planting date. Sprinkle the tiny seeds over a tray filled with seed starter mix, and place it in a warm, bright location until the seeds germinate and sprout into seedlings. Petunias are warm-weather plants, so make sure to harden the seedlings off before transplanting into the garden once the soil warms to at least 70 degrees.

  • 01 of 11

    'Limelight' (Petunia x hybrida 'Limelight')

    'Limelight' petunia with green-rimmed pink petals

    National Garden Bureau

    Like the zinnia variety of the same name, ‘Limelight’ petunias show that gardeners are hungry for the trendy magenta-and-lime-green color combo. A 2013 introduction, the tidy, compact growth habit of this petunia works well at the front of a border.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 10 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 02 of 11

    'Cascadias Rim Magenta' (Petunia x hybrida 'Cascadias Rim Magenta')

    'Cascadias Rim Magenta' with cream-rimmed dark petals

    National Garden Bureau

    Some dark flowers seem to fade into the background, but the creamy margin of ‘Cascadias Rim Magenta’ makes the flower pop in mixed containers and hanging baskets. Like others in the Cascadias series, this Danziger introduction is a vigorous mounding plant with a trailing growth habit.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 10–16 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 03 of 11

    'Fortunia Early Blue Vein' (Petunia x hybrida 'Fortunia Early Blue Vein')

    'Fortunia Early Blue Vein' petunia with dark centers and silvery petals

    National Garden Bureau

    The Fortunia series of petunias was developed as a day-neutral breed, which means that gardeners can expect an earlier blooming time. It has a more compact growth habit than many other petunias. ‘Fortunia Early Blue Vein’ has an almost silvery appearance, which pairs well with other silver plants, such as dusty miller. For an alternative silver petunia, try ‘Tidal Wave Silver,’ an All-America Selections (AAS) winner.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 8–11 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 04 of 11

    'Mini Rose Blast Pink' (Petunia x hybrida 'Mini Rose Blast Pink')

    'Mini Rose Blast Pink' with light and dark pink petals

    National Garden Bureau

    Gardeners are usually divided in their opinions about bicolored flowers such as the petunia ‘Mini Rose Blast Pink.’ If you find the tie-dye-like pattern gorgeous rather than garish, you'll appreciate the highly branched, compact growth habit of these plants. Try pairing them with a petunia in a complementary solid color to match the dark or pale pink tones.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 4–8 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    Continue to 5 of 11 below.
  • 05 of 11

    'Prism Sunshine' (Petunia x hybrida 'Prism Sunshine')

    'Prism Sunshine' petunias with yellow petals

    National Garden Bureau

    Bright yellowish-green flowers like those on the ‘Prism Sunshine’ petunia will always be in demand due to their versatility in garden design. The neutral hue works with any garden color scheme, including pinks, reds, blues, and whites. Best of all, this cultivar is available as seed, so you can grow a few flats to fill in blanks in all your containers and flower beds.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 10–12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 06 of 11

    'Purple Pirouette' (Petunia x hybrida 'Purple Pirouette')

    'Purple Pirouette' petunia with frilly petals in purple and white

    National Garden Bureau

    What’s not to like about the ‘Purple Pirouette’ petunia? Tobacco budworms. The abundance of lush petals seems to lure the caterpillar from miles around. Nevertheless, if you occasionally have a problem with these pests, you should include this stunning annual in your garden. If you include only one or two plants in a mixed container garden, you might just escape the notice of the budworm. A dusting of Bt can also keep the horde in check.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 10–15 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 07 of 11

    'Potunia Plus Red' (Petunia x hybrida 'Potunia Plus Red')

    'Potunia Plus Red' petunia with red petals

    National Garden Bureau

    This petunia has all of the attributes that hummingbirds desire, including a large trumpet shape and a bright-red color that never fades. Like other petunias in the Potunia series, the 'Potunia Plus Red' requires less water than most petunias, helping it survive and thrive in hot, dry gardens.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 10–12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 08 of 11

    'Wave Blue' (Petunia x hybrida 'Wave Blue')

    'Wave Blue' petunias in a purplish-blue shade

    National Garden Bureau

    While the rest of the world waits for the development of a true blue rose, we can be content to grow easy blue flowers like the petunia ‘Wave Blue.’ Let two or three plants take over your sunny window box, and discover why this variety won the AAS award and a Fleuroselect gold medal.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11)
    • Height: 8–10 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    Continue to 9 of 11 below.
  • 09 of 11

    'Surprise Lime' (Petunia x hybrida 'Surprise Lime')

    'Surprise Lime' petunias with pale green centers and cream petals

    National Garden Bureau

    White petunias are de rigueur in the moon garden, where their nocturnal fragrance and glowing petals attract hummingbird moths. The delicate chartreuse throats of this variety also provide interest in the daylight and keep the blooms from looking washed out in bright light. The Surprise series comprises large mounding plants with a trailing habit.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 12–18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 10 of 11

    'Sweetunia White Merlot' (Petunia x hybrida 'Sweetunia White Merlot')

    'Sweetunia White Merlot' petunias with pink and white petals and dark throats

    National Garden Bureau

    If you’ve ever seen a hanging basket on a city lamppost that looked like a giant ball of flowers, you were probably looking at one of the Sweetunia series petunias. These low-maintenance flowers shrug off the harsh conditions of city smog, covering every inch of space with blooms.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 8 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 11 of 11

    'Suncatcher Pink Lemonade' (Petunia x hybrida 'Suncatcher Pink Lemonade')

    'Suncatcher Pink Lemonade' petunia in shades of yellow and pink

    National Garden Bureau

    You’ll put ‘Suncatcher Pink Lemonade’ in your shopping basket for its sunrise-hued glow, and you’ll add this trailing petunia to your list of favorites for its mildew resistance and early flowering nature.

    • Native Areas: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South America
    • USDA Growing Zones: 2–11; hardy in zones 10–11
    • Height: 12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
How to Grow and Care For Petunias