Petunias and Roses...

Petunias : Extraordinary Plants - Extraordinary Ways

Gardeners familiar with Wave varieties know that they are not your grandmother’s variety. Now the key is to harness the flower power of these frothing, foaming wonders to create new and unusual effects in the garden.



The Tidal Wave variety can travel up fences or trellises to a height of three feet. This means they could camouflage a chain link fence with more constant color and less mess than the standard morning glory solution. Achieving new heights as they grow onward and upward, Tidal Wave plants can actually form a hedge. Who would have thought?

The original Wave variety is still learning new tricks. A St. Louis gift shop stopped traffic when it used 400 pots of Wave Purple petunias to make a living garland along its roofline. If you don’t want to try this at home, Wave petunias make a great groundcover, delivering a continuous carpet of blooms.

Easy Wave varieties are a little more mounding than their sister Wave varieties, but no less vigorous. They overflow containers with reckless abandon. They can hide the ugly legs of roses and perennials. Imagine them trained into a weeping tree shape.

All three varieties from the Ride The Wave series could be used in a tiered effect to create a terrace.

With such brazen performances you would think these beauties were high maintenance. Nothing could be further from the truth. They stand up to heat and bounce back after storms without a whimper. While they don’t require any pinching, they will respond with more bushy growth. Don’t bother with dead heading either; these bold bloomers don’t need this extra maintenance to keep looking great. "WOW"

With so many colors to choose from -- like passionate purple, all shades of pink, elegant silvery lilac, cool blue and white -- the color combinations offer countless possibilities.

If you haven’t experienced Wave petunias yet, now is the time to get your feet wet. Or better yet, dive in head first. You’ll be rewarded with oceans of color.

Look for Ride The Wave petunias, easily recognizable in their Pretty Pink Pots, Packs and Flats, at your local garden center or home center. Visit www.Wave-Rave.com to find a retailer near you. Courtesy ARA content

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