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We have been busy packing our favorite flower seeds and gearing up for another amazing year. Stay tuned for back in stock seeds and plants for 2025 plus over 75 new varieties!

Petunia exserta
Petunia exserta
Petunia exserta
Seed Packet

Petunia exserta

Petunia exserta
A native of Brazil, this gem has ruby-red star-shaped flowers with gold dust pollen at the tips of the curved stamens. As I sat collecting seed pods, a hummingbird dipped into each flower in front of me, a joy to see. A weaver that combines effectively with sacred basil and Nigella and grows happily in containers with a twiggy support it can lean into.
SKU #S1168
$5.00
Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
180
Lifecycle
Annual
Annual Hardiness
Half Hardy Annual
Mature Size
8-12" x 1.5' w
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Season
Summer to fall
Color
Lipstick red
Features
Great for containers
Deer Resistant
Heat or Drought Tolerant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
Attracts Hummingbirds
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow and press in lightly; requires light for germination.
Sprout Time:
7-14 days
Seed To Bloom:
12 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Cover with humidity dome or a light sprinkling of vermiculite to retain moisture until germination occurs. Keep at 65-75°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow after last springtime frost in zones 8+.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
After last spring frost.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Petunia is often planted in containers and is an excellent annual groundcover and bedding plant. Pinch back young plants to encourage branching and more flowers and fertilize regularly. At midseason, trim spreading types, especially if growing in containers, to promote lush growth and flowering. The sometimes extreme heat of summer may cause them to go out of bloom. Moving containers into some afternoon shade is beneficial. An excess of water or soggy soils will result in lanky growth and fewer flowers. Deadhead often for flowers all season.
Final Spacing:
8"
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
1" of water a week. Keep evenly moist but never saturated until established, then water during dry spells, more often if growing in a container.
Soil pH:
Acidic to slightly alkaline.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize every 3-4 weeks with an organic balanced formulation, or apply a time release fertilizer when planting.
Diseases & Pests:
No major problems. Aphids can be dislodged with a stream of water. Tobacco budworm may appear later in the summer. Handpick at dusk when they come out to feed. If necessary, treat with an organically-friendly insecticide, but not a broad-spectrum, as this will negatively affect beneficial insects that parasitize the pest.