Calibrachoa Chameleon Sunshine Berry - Mini-Petunia

The Calibrachoa 'Chameleon Sunshine Berry' is a brand new variety of Mini-Petunia with a promising future. This colour magician produces stunning trumpet-shaped flowers in that they continuously change colour, in a palette of yellow and dark pink, depending on temperature and brightness. Its dense dome-shaped and semi-trailing habit, early and prolonged flowering, and easy cultivation make this plant a fabulous annual for hanging baskets and summer containers. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in light, fertile, and not too dry soil.

Calibrachoa, sometimes called Million Bells, are frost-sensitive perennial plants often grown as annuals. Very similar to Petunias, they differ in the number of chromosomes that make up their genetic heritage and some morphological characteristics: their flowers are smaller, their growth habit is shrubby or herbaceous with woody stems, their development is less significant, and they tolerate drought better. The hybrids that make up this group all belong to the Solanaceae family (like tomatoes) and probably descend from an Argentinian species called Petunia integrifolia. The 'Chameleon' series is a first in terms of horticultural selection for Calibrachoa: as the name suggests, the plants offer single or double, medium-sized flowers with changing shades, as well as excellent floribundity and a compact, tidy habit.

The 'Chameleon Sunshine Berry' variety quickly forms a dense mound that is wider than it is tall, reaching a height of 25 to 30 cm (10 in-1 ft) and a diameter of approximately 35 to 40 cm (1 ft 2"-1 ft 4"). Its hairy and branched stems are densely covered with small lanceolate, evergreen, velvety, slightly sticky leaves of a medium green colour. It flowers tirelessly from June until at least September. Numerous funnel-shaped flowers arise from the axils of the leaves; they are 4 to 5 cm (1.6-2 in) wide, alternately variegated and veined in different shades of yellow or bright pink. Unlike petunias, these calibrachoa do not need to be pruned during the season.

The Calibrachoa 'Chameleon Sunshine Berry' is ideal for hanging baskets, containers, or pots, but its good heat and drought tolerance also allows it to be used in the ground, where it forms beautiful borders and intense spots of colour in flowerbeds. It can be planted alone or accompanied by 2 or 3 other varieties with pure colours (bright pink, yellow, orange) in tubs, flower pots, troughs on terraces, balconies, or patios. It is also a good plant for the conservatory. Its combination with Euphorbia Diamond Frost, Lobularia Snow Princess, Verbenas, Surfinia Petunias, double Bacopas, and Nemesias is stunning. The choice is vast and allows for the imagination and tastes of every gardener, even inexperienced ones.

Please note: our young plants in mini-pots are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transfer and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14C° (>57.2 F) for a few weeks before planting outdoors once the risk of frosts has definitively passed.