Petunia pendula

Petunia pendula — trailing petunia

Petunia pendula is the name used for the cascading, trailing petunias that spill from baskets and window boxes in a waterfall of bloom. It belongs to our wider petunia range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Petunias trace back to South America, where the wild species were first found; the trailing types were later developed for their long, cascading stems, ideal for raised containers. The name itself comes, via French, from a Brazilian word for tobacco, a botanical relative.

The descriptive epithet pendula means “hanging” or “pendulous” — a perfect summary of the long, weeping stems that make these petunias spill so gracefully over an edge.

Botanical characteristics

A tender perennial grown as an annual, the trailing petunia produces long, flexible stems clothed in soft, slightly sticky foliage and a continuous succession of wide, trumpet-shaped flowers in almost every colour — from white and pink to purple, red and veined bicolours. That cascading habit makes it a definitive plant for hanging baskets and our container-friendly flowers, and a generous, season-long performer among ornamental flowers.

Growing Petunia pendula from seed

Sow under cover in early spring, pressing the very fine seed onto the surface as it needs light to germinate, and keep it warm. Plant out after the last frost into full sun, water and feed regularly in containers, and deadhead or trim to keep the cascade full and flowering. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow trailing petunias? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Petunia · Container Flowers · Ornamental Flowers · Annual Flowers · All Flower Seeds

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