Petunia LightningSky

Petunia LightningSky is an unusual variety, in the line of Night Sky with starry flowers, but in a deep purple-red. This particularly vigorous variety has large flowers with a quite fascinating colour. They seem to sparkle with large creamy yellow spots in the throat and sprinkled with small dots of the same colour on a dark red background. Flowering is early and prolonged on a vigorous plant that can exceed 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter. This petunia forms a fabulous cascade capable of transforming any terrace into a fantastic setting.

Petunias belong to the Solanaceae family; they are closely related to ornamental tobacco and their foliage also contains alkaloids. These annual, biennial, or tender perennial plants are most often grown as annuals and are all native to the warm regions of South America.

Petunia LightningSky is part of a new series of hybrids that stands out from the rest. It forms a vigorous, dense, and semi-trailing tuft, with long downy stems that rise to 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14in) before cascading for 1 metre (3 feet) or more. The plant flowers from May to October provided it is regularly fed and watered. Its large, cup-shaped flowers are about 8 cm (3in) in diameter and bi-coloured in creamy yellow and dark purple-red. The small creamy yellow dots appear more intensely when there are significant temperature differences between day and night. They bloom on dense, vigorous and healthy foliage. The quite hairy, ovate and pointed, dark green leaves have entire edges. This variety has an exceptional habit and requires very little maintenance: simply remove faded flowers regularly.

No other flowering annual plant has undergone such intense selection by breeders for such a long period. The results are impressive and petunias rival geraniums in terms of splendour and length of flowering, as demonstrated by this sparkling, Lightning Sky variety, a true horticultural achievement in terms of colour. Plant it in large, white, red or grey designer pots, or in hanging baskets, with white or dark red petunias. You can also plant it in a border, to edge grey or white foliage such as dusty miller, sea cineraria, or artemisias. If you want it to stand out, plant several to create an original ground cover. Used to decorate a centrepiece, sprinkled with gold glitter, for example, it will amaze your guests!

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them in a sheltered place (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C for a few weeks before planting outdoors once all risk of frost has passed.