Petunia inflata
Petunia inflata is a purple‑flowered wild species in the integrifolia clade. It is seldom seen in gardens but is well known in botany and breeding. It stands out for short‑tubed, bee‑visited flowers and the absence of floral scent. Plants grow as warm‑season annuals in North America and prefer full sun and well‑drained soil. Use it in species borders and educational plantings where wild petunia traits are the goal.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: species
- Height × spread: 8 to 20 in (20 to 50 cm) × 12 to 24 in (30 to 60 cm) – varies by site
- Bloom window: summer in warm conditions
- Color & flower form: purple, short‑tubed funnel flowers
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: grown as annual in most regions
- Breeder / Year / Origin: wild species, Paraguay to S Brazil and NE Argentina
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Shorter corolla tube than night‑scented species.
- No floral scent.
- More compact flowers than typical garden petunias.
- Natural species character rather than showy hybrid traits.
Strengths
- Simple culture similar to other petunias.
- Useful for teaching and display of wild Petunia traits.
- Tolerates heat with regular water.
Care in one minute
- Provide full sun and well‑drained soil.
- Water when the top inch dries; avoid standing water.
- Feed lightly every few weeks to sustain bloom.
- Pinch to encourage branching if stems elongate.
- Treat as an annual outside frost‑free zones.
Watch‑outs
- Seed sources may be limited and variable.
- Budworm caterpillars may damage buds in late summer.
- Needs sun and drainage to avoid lank growth and rot.
Best uses (tags)
species border, containers, heat‑tolerant, educational
Provenance note
Considered part of the integrifolia clade; widely used in research on self‑incompatibility and floral traits.
References
- Flora Argentina – Petunia inflata account
- Ando et al. 2005 – Morphological study of the Petunia integrifolia complex (Annals of Botany)
- Pereira et al. 2025 (Genes) – Petunia clades and traits
- ASPCA – Petunia (non‑toxic to pets)
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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