A Few Favorite Petunias Courtesy of a Professed Plant Geek
July 28, 2021 
Tumbelina performs very well in baskets, or in pots on a pedestal.
Petunias are familiar, and homely. They often evoke childhood memories, and they represent one of the top impulse purchases in the garden center. But, these days, there is more than just pink to choose from. In fact, any consumer could easily become lost in the candy store that is petunias. To me, there are the big-four crop categories when it comes to bedding and patio plants: geraniums, begonias, Busy Lizzies, and, of course, petunias. I’ve been involved with selecting new varieties for more than 20 years, not just new plants but also repurposing plants we already know, as seen when ‘Tidal Wave’ became a climbing specimen. I’ve travelled extensively in Europe, not just around the trial times either. I usually prefer to get behind the scenes, into the ‘kitchen’, where I can see what’s developing. I then hope to influence in some way.
In fact, I have a hazy memory of first spotting ‘Night Sky’ (now Headliner) Petunia in the background at Selecta in Stuttgart, Germany, 10 years before it was released to great acclaim. I like to think I influenced that decision by my fawning over the plant that day.
The Best of Kerley Family Breeding
I’m going to start off with an English-bred plant, and one created not far from me in Cambridge. The Kerley family has been breeding for more than 20 years and is famous for the double-flowered Priscilla, sold as part of the Supertunia range in the U.S. With this, and the Tumbelina range, they have focused on weatherproof doubles, and with a fragrance. All too often, I spot a gorgeous double, but it doesn’t have that crushed brown sugar scent that a Tumbelina gives.
They have done such a great job with the breeding that you almost don’t recognize it’s a petunia at first sight. The color range of Tumbelina is somewhat phenomenal, and I’m particularly fond of the new variety Darcey Rosa. For the consumer, these perform very well in baskets, or pots on a pedestal. The habit is wonderfully lax, and I’ve often fantasized about using them in rockeries but haven’t tried it yet.
Tim and David Kerley have also turned their hand to good quality windowbox petunias, which can rival the best Balcon geraniums. They are well shaped, staying compact, and taking back a bit of that market share from calibrachoa. The series is called Veranda, and the blooms are mid-size, which affords them good weather resistance.
Hot Varieties From Two Leading Breeders
Now, we cannot mention petunias without mentioning Surfinia. Bred by the world-famous company Suntory that was initially famous for whiskey, these plants really are the champions of the petunia world. They were also one of the strongest branding exercises for a plant ever and are incredibly recognizable not just by name, but by sight as well.
With Surfinia, you get vigor. Not all varieties have a fragrance, but when they do, it’s very special. The color range is extensive and includes a few doubles, as well. You can expect long flowering, with top performance and big impact.
One of the most fascinating companies in the petunia breeding game at the moment is Westhoff in Germany. I thoroughly enjoy going through its breeding houses and seeing what it is up to. Rumor has it there are some hybrids with Salpiglossis coming through. The colors and color combinations that Westhoff is creating are mind blowing.
The Crazytunia is, of course, Westhoff’s flagship range, it’s fun and loved by the consumer. You can choose from stripes, spots, rims, or everything all in one. It must be so much fun putting the marketing together for these plants. As you can imagine, in the garden center, they really attract your attention. People that wouldn’t usually pick up a petunia will absolutely be reaching for these.
Are we allowed to mention the petunia‘s little brother, calibrachoa? Wow, what a journey they’ve had. They’ve gone from an obscure basket plant that had quite specific soil conditions to mainstream patio heroes. I love their diminutive size, which fits so well in tabletop pots or as fillers in hanging baskets. Again, the color range has exploded, and Westhoff is also heavily involved in that. The company’s Calibasket and Calitastic ranges are well worth indulging in.
How about a petunia for gifting? Do you want something that will have the pot roses running scared? Introducing the Queen of Hearts series, bred in Israel by Danziger. It’s such an inspirational variety, and I’d love to know who initially spotted the heart shape in the petals. It was more by chance than design, I imagine. There is now a full color range, and it’s another plant that excites anyone, whatever their skill level.
Petunias have color, vibrancy, fragrance, excellent flowering performance, ease of growing, and versatility. I know it sounds a bit cheesy to say, but with petunia, there really is something for everyone.
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