Garden Guy: These petunias snagged plum roles in university trials by taking the heat

Four years ago or so, Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo was planted extensively in Georgia, and we all looked at each other with a sense of bewilderment asking how a Mini Vista could compete with the Vistas for a long hot summer show of color. With every new variety or addition to the series, it has been the same. This year in university trials and in our home settings, Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined kept its cool and swept us off our feet.

Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined will make its debut at garden centers in spring 2025. This year, during the hottest summer many of us could remember, we had that feeling that this variety was may be put to an unfair test.

If the Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined could talk, it would have said, "Don’t worry. I’ve got this." All the trial results have not come in, at least from what I have been able to see, but Penn State State University and University of Georgia ― two of the most prestigious trial locations ― scored Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined in the 4.83-4.96 range on a scale of 5. This was without air-conditioning.

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Although the garden specifications state that the Mini Vista Plum Veined will grow up to 12 inches tall with a 2-foot spread, you can expect more, particularly in the South. Proven Winners says they will excel as both fillers and spillers in mixed containers. In Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in Auburn, Ala., however, they have demonstrated the past couple of years that the Supertunia Mini Vista petunias can stand on their own as a monoculture. This year Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined and Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow were featured in separate hanging baskets bringing out the plant paparazzi.

While tag describes the flowers as fuchsia pink with plum veins, which is correct, these have a certain richness to the shades. Almost any color will partner well, other than a flaming orange. Son James used Luscious Royale Cosmo lantana with it in a bed and it looked awesome. I partnered mine with the new Hollywood Hibiscus America’s Sweetheart and it was nothing short of dazzling. Certainly Luscious Golden Gate or Luscious Citron would sizzle and even more so if you incorporated some blue.

Proven Winners has four recipes online ― my favorite is called Boost of Energy ― and features Supertunia Royal Magenta petunia, Blushing Princess sweet alyssum and the star of this week’s column, Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined petunia.

The Supertunia Mini Vista series will now total 10 varieties, and while they may seem new to many gardeners, know that they have already won 176 awards. You will feel like you won the Green Thumb Award if you give them good potting soil in your container with plenty of sunlight. In the ground, make your soil is fertile and organic rich. I feed mine every two to three weeks with a water-soluble mix.

You don’t think about petunias attracting pollinators, but the Supertunia Mini Vista series has a history of bringing in bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, all of which make the garden more enjoyable.

Follow Norman Winter on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration. See more columns by Norman at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/home-garden/ .

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Garden Guy: These petunias snagged plum roles in university trials by taking the heat