petunia

Petunia is a genus in the family Solanaceae, subfamily Petunioideae. Well known members of Solanaceae in other subfamilies include tobacco (subfamily Nicotianoideae), and the cape gooseberry, tomato, potato, deadly nightshade and chili pepper (subfamily Solanoideae).“Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Family Solanaceae”. Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009. Web. July 8, 2009. [http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=Solanaceae] Some botanists place the plants of the genus Calibrachoa in the genus Petunia, but this is not accepted by others.[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=calibrachoa The Plant List: Petunia]{{cite journal |last1=Ando |first1=T. |last2=Kokubun |first2=H. |last3=Watanabe |first3=H. |last4=Tanaka |first4=N. |last5=Yukawa |first5=T. |last6=Hashimoto |first6=G. |last7=Marchesi |first7=E. |last8=Suárez |first8=E. |last9=Basualdo |first9=I.L. |title=Phylogenetic analysis of Petunia sensu Jussieu (Solanaceae) using chloroplast DNA RFLP |journal=Annals of Botany |date=2005 |volume=96 |issue=2 |pages=289–297 |doi=10.1093/aob/mci177 |pmid=15944177|pmc=4246877 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal | last1 = Mishiba | first1 = Kei-Ichiro | last2 = Ando | first2 = Toshio | last3 = Mii | first3 = Masahiro | last4 = Watanabe | first4 = Hitoshi | last5 = Kokubun | first5 = Hisashi | last6 = Hashimoto | first6 = Goro | last7 = Marchesi | first7 = Eduardo | year = 2000 | title = Nuclear DNA Content as an Index Character Discriminating Taxa in the Genus Petunia sensu Jussieu (Solanaceae) | journal = Annals of Botany | volume = 85 | issue = 5| pages = 665–673 | doi = 10.1006/anbo.2000.1122 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2000AnBot..85..665M }} Petchoa is a hybrid genus derived from crossing Calibrachoa and Petunia.[http://hsornamentals.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-value-of-growing-petchoa-supercal.html The Value of Growing Petchoa SuperCal®. Ornamental News Oct 25 2012]

Species include:{{citation |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=petunia |title=The Plant List |access-date=13 September 2015}}

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• Petunia alpicola
• Petunia axillaris
• Petunia bajeensis
• Petunia bonjardinensis
• Petunia exserta
• Petunia guarapuavensis
• Petunia inflata
• Petunia integrifolia
• Petunia interior
• Petunia ledifolia
• Petunia littoralis
• Petunia mantiqueirensis
• Petunia occidentalis
• Petunia patagonica
• Petunia reitzii
• Petunia riograndensis
• Petunia saxicola
• Petunia scheideana
• Petunia villadiana
• Petunia × atkinsiana

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Petunias are generally insect pollinated, with the exception of P. exserta, which is a rare, red-flowered, hummingbird-pollinated species. Most petunias are diploid with 14 chromosomes and are interfertile with other petunia species,{{cite journal |last1=Ando |first1=T. |last2=Nomura |first2=M. |last3=Tsukahara |first3=J. |last4=Watanabe |first4=H. |last5=Kokubun|first5=H. |last6=Tsukamoto |first6=T. |last7=Hashimoto |first7=G. |last8=Marchesi |first8=E. |last9=Kitching|first9=I. J. |title=Reproductive isolation in a native population of Petunia sensu Jussieu (Solanaceae) |journal=Annals of Botany |date=2001 |volume=88 |issue=3 |pages=403–413 |doi=10.1006/anbo.2001.1485 |jstor=42771064 | doi-access = free |bibcode=2001AnBot..88..403A }}Griesbach, R.J.(2007) in Flower breeding and genetics: Issues, challenges and opportunities for the 21st century, Petunia, ed Anderson N.O. (Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands), pp 301–336. as well as with Calibrachoa.

The tubular flowers are favoured by some Lepidoptera species, including the Hummingbird hawk moth.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100620032455/http://butterfly-conservation.org/uploads/Humming-bird_Hawk-moth.pdf Butterfly Conservation]

Petunias can tolerate relatively harsh conditions and hot climates, but not frost. They need at least five hours of sunlight every day and flourish in moist soil and conditions of low atmospheric humidity. They are best grown from seed. Watering once a week should be sufficient in most regions. Hanging baskets and other containers need more frequent watering.Brown, Deborah. “Growing Petunias” University of Minnesota Extension Office. University of Minnesota. 2009. Web. 25 June 2009. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1120.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026174621/http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1120.html |date=2013-10-26 }} Maximum growth occurs in late spring. Applying fertilizer monthly or weekly, depending on the variety, will help the plant grow quickly.

The following is a selection of cultivars which have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

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• {{tdes|Conchita Blueberry Frost}} = 'Conblue'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/197509/Petunia-Conchita-Blueberry-Frost-Conblue-(PBR)-(Conchita-Series)/Details | title = Petunia Conchita Blueberry Frost='Conblue' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• {{tdes|Conchita Evening Glow}} = 'Conglow'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/197511/Petunia-Conchita-Evening-Glow-Conglow-(PBR)-(Conchita-Series)/Details | title = Petunia Conchita Evening Glow='Conglow' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• {{tdes|Conchita Strawberry Frost}} = 'Constraw'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/197512/Petunia-Conchita-Strawberry-Frost-Constraw-(PBR)-(Conchita-Series)/Details | title = Petunia Conchita Strawberry Frost='Constraw' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• {{tdes|NightSky}} = 'Kleph15313'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/349988/Petunia-NightSky-Kleph15313/Details | title = Petunia NightSky='Kleph15313' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• 'Storm Lavender'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/303687/Petunia-x-atkinsiana-Storm-Lavender/Details | title = Petunia × atkinsiana 'Storm Lavender' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• 'Storm Pink'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/303688/Petunia-x-atkinsiana-Storm-Pink/Details | title = Petunia × atkinsiana 'Storm Pink' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• 'Storm Salmon'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/303693/Petunia-x-atkinsiana-Storm-Salmon/Details | title = Petunia × atkinsiana 'Storm Salmon' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• {{tdes|Surfinia Pink Vein}} = 'Suntosol'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/121275/Petunia-Surfinia-Pink-Vein-Suntosol-(Surfinia-Series)/Details | title = Petunia Surfinia Pink Vein='Suntosol' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• {{tdes|Surfinia Purple}} = 'Sunpurple'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/121287/Petunia-Surfinia-Purple-Sunpurple-(PBR)-(Surfinia-Series)/Details | title = Surfinia Purple='Sunpurple' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}
• {{tdes|Tumbelina Priscilla}} = 'Kerpril'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/169991/Petunia-Tumbelina-Priscilla-Kerpril-(PBR)-(Tumbelina-Series)-(d)/Details | title = Petunia Tumbelina Priscilla='Kerpril' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 18 January 2021}}

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Many species other than Petunia × atkinsiana are also gaining popularity in the home garden.{{cite book |last=Armitage |first=Allan M. |title=Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials |location=Portland |publisher=Timber Press |date=2001}} A wide range of flower colours, sizes, and plant architectures are available in both Petunia × atkinsiana and other species.{{cite book |last=Ellis |first=Barbara W. |title=Taylor's Guide to Annuals |location=Boston |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Co. |date=1999}}

Genetically engineered bioluminescent Petunia hybrida was approved for sales by USDA in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2023/rsr-light-bio-petunia|title=rsr-light-bio-petunia|publisher=USDA|language=en}} Called 'Firefly', this white-flowered petunia glows due to inserted genes from a bioluminescent mushroom.{{cite journal|url=https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00383-3|title=Glow-Way!|date=2024 |journal=Nature|doi=10.1038/d41586-024-00383-3 |pmid=38337056 |language=en |last1=Bourzac |first1=K. |volume=626 |issue=8000 |page=701 |url-access=subscription }}

The Maya and Inca believed that the scent of petunias had the power to ward off underworld monsters and spirits. Their flower-buds were bunched together for magical drinks.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

File:Petunia Flowers (2).jpg|Red and white mixed petunia

File:Petunia Violet.jpg|Purple petunias with a white border

File:Petunia axillaris-Purple Petunia.JPG|A form of Petunia axillaris with a light pink flower

File:Petunia axillaris-White Petunia.JPG|White Petunia axillaris

File:Petunia red.jpg|A red petunia with a white border

File:Petunia Hybrid Bi Color.jpg|A cultivated form of petunia

File:Niz dvorot od Rašo 2013- 16 maj (107).JPG|Leaves of Petunia × atkinsiana

File:Petunia.jpg|A cultivated form

File:Starry night petunia flower in Porto Alegre - Brazil.jpg|Starry Night, found in Porto Alegre - Brazil.

File:Petunia Pink Sky.jpg|Pink Sky Petunia

File:Black petunia. II.jpg|Black Petunia

File:Petunia flower growing in Boothbay Maine 2024.jpg|Petunia flowers found growing in Boothbay, Maine

File:Field of Pink Petunia.jpg|Pink Petunia in Holambra - Brazil

File:Petunia x hybrida.JPG|Petunia x hybrida

File:African Sunset petunias.jpg|alt=|African Sunset, an orange petunia created with genetic modification

File:Petunia double petals.jpg|Petunia double petals

File:Petunia blue double petals.jpg|Petunia blue double petals

Firefly petunia.jpg|"Firefly" petunia, genetically engineered to produce a glow

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Category:Solanaceae genera

Category:Flora of Pakistan

Category:Garden plants

Category:Taxa named by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu