Having hanging flower baskets as a part of your home garden is a fantastic idea. Not only do they add a gorgeous appeal to the area, but they also save space and are easily manageable.
Primarily, petunias are among the most beautiful flowering species. As such, they should be one of your top choices when deciding what to plant in your hanging baskets.
Yet, not all varieties are suitable for such placement. If you don’t know what kind of cascading plant to grow in those containers, keep reading.
In this article, I gathered a list of the best petunias for hanging baskets to give you some ideas.
What Are the Best Petunias for Hanging Baskets?
Petunias are mesmerizing flowering plants that come in a variety of stunning colors. So, when it comes to appearance, you have many options to choose from.
That said, it’s essential to consider the growth habits of the varieties you go for. Some petunias cascade or trail beautifully over your baskets, making them perfect for such positioning.
On the other hand, other types may have more upright growth habits. In turn, this might not make them the ideal choice for your hanging garden.
Here are six of the best petunia varieties to grow in hanging baskets.
1- Wave Petunia Varieties
Wave petunias are famous for their vigorous growth. Such a feature allows them to create gorgeous cascades of color in hanging baskets.
Such an astonishing plant can grow between 6 to 12 inches in length, trailing up to 2—4 feet. It also blooms abundantly, producing vibrant hues including pink, purple, blue, and white.
In general, wave petunias come in four main kinds, which are:
- Wave: Such a marvelous variety is famous for its vigorous, spreading growth. It forms a carpet of blossom that spills gracefully over your hanging basket.
- Easy Wave: This variety offers similar growing and spreading habits to the ordinary wave petunias. It’s versatile and adaptable, coming in an array of splendid colors.
- Tidal Wave: Characterized by its bushy growth habit, this variety is perfect for larger hanging baskets. It produces blossoms that create a captivating display.
- Shockwave: Known for its trailing growth, such a plant is well-suited for hanging baskets. While relatively small in size, it produces amazing blooms in various shades.
2- Double Wave Petunias
Double Wave petunias offer a delightful twist on the classic favorite. This twist is having double blooms that create a fuller and more textured appearance.
Such a fantastic variety showcases the same vigorous trailing growth of wave petunias. This allows it to form a cascade of vibrant colors in hanging baskets.
With a diverse color palette, double Wave petunias can provide you with the opportunity to elevate your outdoor space with rich blossoms.
3- Supertunia Petunias
Supertunia petunias are versatile annuals known for their mounding habits and colorful blooms. Such a hybrid variety can add a burst of beauty to any landscape.
With a great range of hues and trailing growth habits, this variety can make a fantastic addition to your hanging garden.
On top of that, it exhibits great resilience against weather conditions, making it ideal for sunny environments.
It’s also low-maintenance and delivers continuous flowering throughout the season. Thus, it’s a favorite plant among many gardeners.
4- Surfinia Petunias
This mesmerizing variety is one of the most selling types of trailing petunia worldwide. It’s particularly well-suited for hanging baskets due to its beautiful cascading growth.
Surfinia petunias are annuals that are bred for their trailing habits. They have the same wide bloom of traditional petunias but come in dazzling shades of impressive colors.
Famous for being resilient and heat tolerant, they can offer you a full-bloom display throughout the growing season. They also spread to reach about 18 inches, forming a striking arrangement.
All in all, they have a low-maintenance nature and the ability to thrive in different conditions. As a result, it makes them a perfect choice for gardeners seeking enduring flowering baskets.
5- Trailing Surfinia Mix
The Trailing Surfinia Mix is a curated blend that includes captivating varieties of Surfinia petunias. It comes in many different colors, providing a mix of hues within a single planting.
Unlike the traditional Surfinia petunias that come in one color, the mix ensures a diverse display in your garden of hanging baskets.
That said, the Surfinia mix has the signature resilience qualities of the traditional Surfinias. This ensures a long-lasting, visually striking display throughout the gardening season.
All in all, you can say that the Surfinia Mix provides an effortless way to add a burst of color to your outdoor space. All that without having to plant more than one type.
6- Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Although it may not be a real petunia, Calibrachoa is a charming, compact, and flowering type of trailing plant.
It’s famous for having tiny petunia-like blossoms, coming in an array of vibrant colors, including pink, purple, yellow, and orange. As such, it’s an ideal candidate for hanging baskets.
Just like many petunia types, Calibrachoa is a heat-tolerant and resilient plant. Thus, it’s able to provide continuous blooms throughout the season.
With cascading growth and minimal maintenance requirements, it’s another popular choice for those seeking a versatile flowering plant.
Can You Plant Non-Cascading Petunias in Hanging Baskets?
Yes, it’s absolutely okay to grow non-cascading petunias in hanging baskets.
It’s true that many gardeners prefer the cascading varieties, such as the Wave of Surfinia series, for their trailing habits.
However, many types of non-cascading (mounding) petunias can work quite well in hanging baskets too.
Despite growing more compactly, some varieties of the Supertunia and Double Wave series can create a beautiful display in hanging baskets.
In all cases, when you choose non-cascading petunias for hanging baskets, it’s essential to consider some factors.
These factors include their growth habits, the area you’re living in, the size, and the overall design you want to achieve in your hanging display.
Tips for Growing Petunias in Hanging Baskets
By now, you should have a comprehensive idea about the variety of petunias that would work great in hanging baskets.
To help you more with the process, here are a few helpful tips to consider for your hanging basket petunias to thrive.
- Because most petunias love to be in the sun, you need to place your hanging baskets in a place that gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
- Hanging baskets tend to dry faster than ground beds. So, use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix to ensure proper aeration and prevent waterlogging.
- Petunias in hanging baskets may need more frequent watering than those planted in the ground. Thus, you need to check the soil regularly and water it thoroughly when it’s dry.
- Consider petunia varieties that are resistant to common pests and diseases in your region to ensure they enjoy healthy growth.
- Try to combine different petunia colors to create uniquely stunning arrangements, such as purples and white, orange and yellow, or red and pink.
- Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and maintain a pleasing appearance (deadheading).
- Provide your petunias with feedings of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every two to four weeks during the growing season to promote healthy growth and flower production.
- Try to trim back leggy or excessively grown stems to encourage branching and a more lush appearance.
- Avoid overcrowding your hanging basket and follow the spacing recommendations for the specific petunia variety you have.
- Consider adding support structures to your hanging baskets to prevent them from becoming too heavy.
- In case of severe weather conditions like strong wind, try to protect your hanging baskets by bringing them indoors.
Final Thoughts
The choice of the best petunias for hanging baskets transforms your outdoor space completely. Such little flowers can add a touch of magical colors to your beloved garden.
From the cascading beauty of Wave and Surfinia varieties to the charming allure of Double Wave and Supertunia petunias, each selection brings its own character to your display.
Whatever the type you go for, it’s important to consider a few tips to take proper care of these beautiful plants.
Placing them in direct sun, watering frequently, and using well-draining soil are all key practices to keep your petunias in excellent shape.
On top of that, deadheading, feeding, and pruning can contribute to a prolonged bloom cycle, allowing you to enjoy those mesmerizing colors to the max.
Overall, consistency is what you need. Combined with patience and attention, you can transform your outdoor space into a lovely portrait of vivid colors.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.