Petunias are one of the most popular annual flowers for containers. Their colorful blooms cascade beautifully over the edges of pots and hanging baskets, creating stunning displays from spring to frost.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to use petunias in container gardens, you’ve come to the right place Below we’ll explore some ideas and tips for growing these pretty flowers in pots of all sizes.
Choosing the Best Petunias for Containers
Petunias come in a wide array of colors, from bold purples and pinks to softer pastels. There are also single flowered varieties as well as ruffled and double flowered cultivars.
Some of the best petunias for containers include
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Wave petunias – These trailing varieties cascade up to 4 feet from hanging baskets. Popular colors include ‘Wave Purple Classic’ and ‘Wave Pink’.
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Supertunia petunias – These vigorous plants bloom prolifically all season long and don’t require deadheading. ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’ has bright pink blooms.
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Surfinia petunias – With dainty flowers on trailing stems, these make lovely spillers in combination planters. ‘Surfinia Baby Purple’ is a compact option.
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Milliflora petunias – The small flowers of these dwarf varieties are perfect for edging mixed containers. ‘Picobella Blue’ has tiny violet-blue blooms.
Caring for Petunias in Pots
Caring for petunias in containers is similar to caring for them in garden beds. To keep them looking their best:
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Water frequently, especially in hot weather. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
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Prune back leggy growth by 1/3 throughout summer.
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Deadhead spent blooms of varieties other than Supertunias.
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Move containers to a sunny, protected spot in winter in cold climates.
Eye-Catching Petunia Container Designs
There are endless possibilities when it comes to planting petunias in pots! Here are a few fun combinations:
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For a patriotic display, combine red, white and blue petunias with trailing dichondra silver falls.
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Mix colors and textures by pairing ‘Supertunia Bordeaux’ with yellow lantern-shaped bidens and silver dusty miller.
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For an edible container, surround cherry tomatoes with mounding ‘Wave Purple’ petunias.
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Create a serene look with trailing ‘Surfinia White’ and upright lavender perennial geraniums.
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Combine pink Supertunias, calibrachoa and verbena in a large urn. Underplant with purple fountain grass.
Final Tips for Success
When planting petunias in containers, choose a potting mix formulated for containers as it will provide good drainage. Use a container with drainage holes and place a saucer underneath to catch excess water.
Group your pots together for maximum visual impact. Petunias also look great on front steps and blank walls.
With proper care, your petunias will bloom nonstop and add gorgeous color to your garden from spring until fall frost. Following these tips will help you grow thriving, cascading flowers in any size container.
Designing Summer Containers with Easy Wave Petunias
FAQ
How do I keep my petunias looking full and flowering?
What goes well with petunias in a container?
What’s the difference between petunias and impatiens?
Should you water potted petunias every day?
Do petunias grow in containers?
Petunias are beautiful flowering plants and popular annual flowers in American and European gardens. Petunias growing in containers are excellent decorations for fences, stairs, exterior walls, interior window sills, gazebos, porches, pergolas and balconies.
Do petunias bloom in pots?
Petunias are one of the most popular and versatile flowers for containers. They come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and they can bloom from spring to fall with proper care. Whether you want to add some color to your porch, balcony, or patio, or create a stunning hanging basket, growing petunias in pots is easy and rewarding.
How many stock photos of petunias are there?
There are 5,927 authentic petunias stock photos available on Getty Images. You can explore additional petunias isolated or petunias pot stock images to find the right photo for your project.
Can you grow petunias in pots?
Petunias, popular annual plants that bring color to the summer garden, are a great candidate for containers—whether on their own or with other plants. Petunia care in pots is similar to petunia care in the ground. Pruning: Prune your petunias a few times over summer, cutting them back by about one-third. (See more: How to Prune Petunias)