8. YELLOW PETUNIAS—UNIQUE AND REFRESHING

I love petunias in planters. They are a classic annual flower well suited for hanging baskets and containers. Originally from South America, this flower of vibrant colors loves full sun. With bigger flowers than the popular Million Bells® (Calibrachoa), petunias attract attention and work well in combination with other flowers in a planter. They are tender perennials in USDA hardiness zones 9–11.

Yellow has traditionally been an elusive color for petunias, but this is changing. One of my favorites is Supertunia® ‘Citrus’ Petunia. It has a dark yellow center with a light yellow to white edging, which makes for a striking flower. The creamy yellow looks good with anything, but it’s especially exciting when paired with blue or purple flowers. Supertunia® has large blossoms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They are vigorous bloomers but they require full sun, water, and frequent feeding to stay at their peak. When you plant it in a container in spring, incorporate a slow-release fertilizer suitable for flowers into the potting soil and follow up through the growing season with liquid fertilizer.

Petunia Cascadias™ ‘Indian Summer’ is also outstanding. The large, lightly ruffled blossoms are a distinctive mix of yellow, orange, and salmon pink, unrivaled in petunias. They bloom profusely from early spring until first frost and withstand the summer heat well. It has a trailing, well-branched habit so it spills out over the edge of a container beautifully. Its height is 10 to 12 inches with a spread of 12 to 14 inches wide.

In a white window box, the large blossoms of Cascadias™ ‘Indian Summer’ petunias blend with deep pink petunias to create an eye-catching summer show.

The glorious Supertunia® ‘Citrus’ Petunia (Petunia Supertunia® ‘Citrus’) is planted in an appealing fluted urn. Its buttery-yellow blooms grow here with tall, purple angelonia and ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Lime’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea hybrid). Petunia Supertunia® needs no deadheading. These petunias grow as somewhat trailing plants. It can be a perennial in zones 9–11. In zones 3–8 it is an annual.

In a black container, the yellow Supertunia® ‘Citrus’ Petunia (Petunia Supertunia® ‘Citrus’) joins the trailing white fan flower (Scaevola aemula). The black and yellow combo is a dramatic touch. Perfect for modern landscapes.