Petunia Supertunia Vista Paradise

Petunia Supertunia Vista Paradise brilliantly completes the range of Vista petunias with its dazzling pink-red flowers. The plant forms impressive cascades of flowers from late spring to autumn. Its lively appearance and its resistance to heat and bad weather allow for numerous uses, in the garden and in hanging baskets or pots on the terrace. This particularly generous plant thrives in full sun and requires regular watering.

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 mostly grown as annuals and originate from the warm regions of South America. Petunia Supertunia is a sterile hybrid petunia dating back to 2006, with a trailing habit rather than an upright one, making it a magnificent plant for hanging baskets. It also stands out for its beautiful and very long flowering period.

Petunia Supertunia 'Vista Paradise' forms a particularly vigorous and trailing clump that reaches 40 cm (16in) high (sometimes 60 cm (24in)) and cascades down to 90 cm (35in), or even 1.20 m (4ft) by the end of the season. The plant is in bloom from June to October, or even until the first frost, provided it is regularly fed, and watered during dry spells. Its single cup-shaped flowers are medium-sized, 5 cm (2in) wide and bright pink with fine, almost red veins, diving into a dark throat. They are densely packed on long fuzzy stems, hiding dense and very healthy foliage. The leaves are oval with pointed tips, quite hairy, with entire edges and a greyish-green hue. This variety tolerates bad weather and heat well, and its faded flowers drop naturally without the need for deadheading.

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 'Supertunia Vista Paradise' variety. Plant it in large pots, troughs, or hanging baskets, on its own or mixed with other Supertunia Vista petunias, a blue or pink surfinia, a purple-leaved morning glory (I.Sweet Heart Jet Black), or a blue sage, as it won't smother these companion plants. If you want to stand out, plant several plants to create an original ground cover at the base of grey-leaved plants like Nepeta faassenii or annual poppies in pastel colours.

Supplied as growing plants measuring 4 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in 5 small plug plants, 2.8 cm (1in) in diameter and 4 cm (2in) high and individually labelled. Our plants are at least eight weeks old and strong enough to be planted in the ground.

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