Pretty Much Picasso™ and Dolcissima Petunias
A Collection of Multicolored Flowers for Annual Summer Gardens
Nov 10, 2009
Petunias are some of the prettiest annual plants to grow in a summer flower garden. For some new petunias, it is all about their multiple colors. These petunias have color combinations sure to add a pocket of surprise just around a corner or soften the edge of a long concrete sidewalk.
New Multicolored Petunias
Petunia ‘Pretty Much Picasso’ is a new multicolored annual flower. The color combination is unique; violet purple interior edged by chartreuse with dark purple veining radiating from the center of each bloom. The color is stable, meaning the color pattern will be the same on each plant produced.
In addition to the unusual color combination, gardeners will appreciate this plant for the hardy trailing and self-cleaning habit. Petunia ‘Pretty Much Picasso’ will add high impact color planted in garden walkways.
Pretty Much Picasso™ was bred by Proven Winners and is part of their supertunia series. This new Petunia won several awards in 2009, including best new plants at the Boskoop Plantarium.
Petunia ‘Rhythm & Blues' is another new hybrid that has a stable pattern but from Ball Horticultural Company. The blooms are deep blue with a white edging. The plant grows up to 12” tall with a mounding habit.
Italian Petunia Series
The Italian Petunia 'Dolcissima' has multicolored flowers. This petunia plant is a multiflora type that only slightly spreads, has 3” diameter ruffled blooms and will continue flowering into autumn where the weather remains mild. There are three cultivars in the Petunia ‘Dolcissima’ series:
- P. ‘Dolcissima Limoncello’ has shades of yellow.
- P. ‘Dolcissima Flambe’ has cream, yellow and pink blooms. It won the Fleuroselect Quality mark in 2002.
- P. ‘Dolcissima Fragolino' has hues of rose, yellow and cream.
Gardeners who like variety in planting beds will appreciate these petunias. Within the same cultivar, each bloom will look slightly different from each other on the same plant.
Petunia Star Designs
Petunias are one of a few annuals with a genetic ability to create a star in its flower. Petunia ‘Ultra Crimson Star’ won the first All-America Selections Bedding Plant Award in 1988, for its stable star pattern. Another, Petunia ‘Razzle Dazzle’ is a long-time cultivar with a red or navy blue and white star design; the plant is often used for July 4 displays.
Petunias are easy to grow annual flowers. Although not thought of as fragrant, the petunia’s light scent will be apparent when planted in mass near a seating area. Gardeners who want to read more may be interested in shock wave petunias.
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