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Petunia inflata
species · wild species, Paraguay to S Brazil and NE Argentina
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)
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)
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