Home Flower Identifier Flower Details
Petunia
🌸

Petunia

Petunia

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
Related

Basic Details

NamePetunia
DescriptionPopular annual with trumpet-shaped flowers in every color imaginable - purple, pink, red, white, yellow, and multicolors. Blooms nonstop from spring until frost with minimal care. Easy to grow from garden centers or seeds. Related to tobacco plant. Comes in upright types for beds and trailing types for hanging baskets.
FamilySolanaceae
GenusPetunia
TribePetunioideae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ⚥ K(5) C(5) A5 G(2)

Ebracteate, radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), bisexual, 5 fused sepals forming calyx tube, 5 fused petals forming funnel-shaped corolla, 5 stamens attached to corolla tube, 2 fused carpels with superior ovary

Features
  • Name from French 'pétun' (tobacco) from Tupi-Guarani language - related to tobacco plant. About 20 Petunia species. Main types: Grandiflora (large 3-5 inch flowers), Multiflora (smaller 2 inch flowers, more blooms), Wave/Spreading (ground cover), Milliflora (tiny 1 inch flowers)
  • Flowers 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) across, funnel or trumpet-shaped. 5 fused petals forming tube. Colors: purple, pink, red, white, yellow, blue, black, bicolors, stripes, veining. Single or double forms. Some varieties fragrant (especially white, night-scented). Blooms late spring through frost (May-October)
  • Tender perennial grown as annual in most climates. Bushy or trailing habit depending on variety. Sticky, hairy leaves and stems. Upright types 6-18 inches tall, spreading types trail 2-4 feet. Self-cleaning (flowers drop when spent) or need deadheading depending on variety
  • Grows 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall for upright types. Trailing types spread 2-4 feet (60-120 cm). Lifespan one season as annual, 2-3 years in frost-free zones. Propagated from seeds (tiny, need light to germinate) or cuttings. Blooms 60-90 days from seed
  • Native to South America, particularly Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia. Found in grasslands and along roadsides. Now cultivated worldwide as ornamental. Thrives in temperate and subtropical climates
  • Requires full sun (6-8 hours daily) for best blooming. Tolerates partial shade but fewer flowers. Needs well-drained soil. Regular watering - don't let dry out completely. Fertilize every 2 weeks. Hardy zones 9-11 as perennial, grown as annual elsewhere. Heat and drought tolerant once established
  • Excellent for beds, borders, containers, hanging baskets, window boxes. Trailing types perfect for cascading displays. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, moths. Deer resistant. Low maintenance - some varieties self-clean. Provides continuous color all summer
  • Easy for beginners - very forgiving. Pinch back leggy stems to encourage bushiness. Deadhead spent flowers (except self-cleaning types) for more blooms. Can get leggy in midsummer - trim back by half to rejuvenate. Symbolizes anger or resentment in flower language, but also comfort and soothing

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificPetunia
English (Alternate)Grandiflora, Multiflora, Floribunda, Milliflora petunias, Spreading petunias, trailing petunias, ground cover petunias
Hindiपिटूनिया (Pituniya), संध्या मालती (Sandhya Malti)
Tamilபெட்டூனியா (Peṭṭūṉiyā), அகத்தி (Agathi), அகத்திப்பூ (Agathi poo)
Teluguపెటూనియా (Petunia), ఆదివిజామ (Adivi Jamalu), బండి మురుగుడు (Bandi Murugudu)
Malayalamപെറ്റ്യൂണിയ (Petunia)
Kannadaಪೆಟೂನಿಯಾ ಮಿಶ್ರ ಬೀಜ (Petunia mishra beeja)
Sanskritपेतुनिया पुष्पम् (Petuniā Puṣpam), अगस्त्यः (Agastyah)
Bengaliপিটুনিয়া (Pitunia)
Frenchpétunia
Russianпетунья (petún'ya), петуния (petúniya)
Spanishla petunia
GermanPetunie

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.