Petunia Blue Wave

Petunia ‘Blue Wave’ in a pot.

* Common name: Petunia Blue Wave(TM)

* Botanical name: Petunia multiflora hybrid

* What it is: A heavy-blooming, low-growing annual flower that, despite its name, gets rich, deep-purple trumpet-shaped flowers all summer long.

* Size: Only grows about 6 inches tall but can spread 2 feet or more before frost finally kills it.

* Where to use: Great in pots and hanging baskets but also nice in foundation beds or massed along the front of borders. Best in full sun but even does fairly well in light shade.

* Care: In pots and baskets, water daily and fertilize weekly with a half-strength, high-phosphorus flower fertilizer. In the ground, water every few days for the first few weeks, then once or twice a week in dry weather. Compost, an organic flower fertilizer or a timed-release flower fertilizer mixed into the soil at planting time is usually enough, but a monthly high-phosphorus flower fertilizer also is fine. Pinch tips if they get too long. No need to deadhead spent flowers… these are self-cleaning.

* Great partner: Pink roses. In a pot, pair with perilla ‘Magilla,’ an upright herb with pink, green and burgundy leaves, or with anything silver, such as dusty miller or cardoon.