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common garden petunia
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common garden petunia

plant
Also known as: Petunia × atkinsiana
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Quick Summary

The common garden petunia, Petunia ×atkinsiana, is a popular ornamental plant in the nightshade family, native to South America. Despite being technically a perennial, it's typically grown as an annual, blooming from early summer until frost.1

Petunias are known for their showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that come in various colors, often with speckles or veins. They are well-suited for summer flower beds and window boxes, with varieties ranging from compact and erect to sprawling and long-stemmed for hanging baskets. The plant's name originates from the Tupi word "petíma," meaning "tobacco," to which it is botanically related.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. petunia
  2. Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden | Petunia

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