Choose a petunia by habit: spreading Wave, trailing Supertunia or Vista, compact Shock Wave, or landscape Tidal Wave. Mexican petunia is a different plant.
Choose spreading, trailing, compact, or landscape
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Spreading Wave | Bed carpet or a wide bowl | A tiny pot that dries by noon |
| Trailing Supertunia | Hanging basket or the pot rim | Expecting a tight mound |
| Compact Shock Wave | Small patio pot | Buying it for a three-foot cascade |
| Tidal Wave | Landscape room, hedge height | A 12-inch bowl |
Know your USDA hardiness zone before you pick a type of petunia that will take your winter. Type your ZIP below.
2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.
Lock habit first, then pick a color in that series. [1] Older labels — grandiflora, multiflora, milliflora — sort flower size, not the Wave versus Supertunia fork we shop. [2]
What are the main types of petunias?
Start with spreading Wave, trailing Supertunia or Vista, compact Shock Wave, and landscape Tidal Wave. Then confirm pot or bed room on the tag.
What is the difference between Wave and Supertunia?
Wave types spread along the ground or a wide bowl. Supertunia and Vista trail harder and want basket volume. Shock Wave is the compact Wave. Tidal Wave is the tall landscape plant.
Kinds we hold
Supertunia / Vista
Supertunia and Vista such as Supertunia Black Cherry and Supertunia Vista Bubblegum trail hard. Size the basket to that spread.
Easy Wave
Easy Wave such as Easy Wave Blue and Easy Wave Pink spreads in a bowl or along a bed edge without Tidal Wave height.
Shock Wave
Shock Wave such as Shock Wave Deep Purple keeps Wave habit in a smaller pot. Skip it when you wanted a three-foot cascade.
Wave
Classic Wave such as Wave Purple carpets a sunny edge. Flowers sit along the stem, not only at the tip.
Tidal Wave
Tidal Wave such as Tidal Wave Silver is the hedge petunia — taller and wider. Wrong buy in a 12-inch bowl.
Summer care stays on How to Grow Petunias. Pot volume stays on Petunias in Containers.
Not types — Mexican petunia, million bells, color
- Mexican petunia (Ruellia) — a different genus, often a perennial landscape plant. It is not Petunia. [3]
- Million bells (Calibrachoa) — smaller flowers, often a basket partner, not a petunia type. [4]
- Night Sky, black, blue — flower color or one cultivar, not a habit class.
- Grandiflora vs multiflora — older flower-size labels. Shop the series habit we hold first.
Is Mexican petunia a petunia?
No. Mexican petunia is Ruellia. Garden petunia is Petunia × hybrida. Do not copy Ruellia care onto this plant.
Pick spreading, trailing, compact, or landscape. Mexican petunia is Ruellia, not a petunia type.
FAQ
Is Night Sky a type of petunia?
It is a cultivar with a speckled flower, not a habit class. Choose Wave versus Supertunia first, then the plant.
Are mini petunias the same as million bells?
Often the plant sold as mini or trailing petunia is Calibrachoa. Milliflora petunias are still Petunia, with small flowers. Read the genus on the tag.
Are pink and white petunias different species?
Usually no. Color is not a type. Use spreading versus trailing first.
Should I grow grandiflora petunias in the South?
Large, heavy flowers rot in hot, humid rain. Multiflora and spreading series hold up better. That is a weather note, not a hardiness zone table.
Related guides
References
- [1] Clemson HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/petunia/ - [2] Old Farmer's Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/petunias - [3] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/petunia-x-hybrida/ - [4] Iowa State Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/creating-and-growing-hanging-baskets
This note is part of Petunia Guides.
More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors