Calibrachoa Lia Dark Red - Mini-Petunia

The Calibrachoa Lia Dark Red is a recent, early-flowering and floriferous variety of mini-petunia, a fantastic annual that forms pretty, round and dense clumps, covered with countless funnel-shaped flowers of a beautiful intense carmine red, illuminated by a small yellow heart, from spring until the first frosts. Adorned with small, dark green and pointed foliage, the plants happily overflow from flower pots. Not demanding in terms of water, resistant to rain and almost maintenance-free, it is an essential ornamental plant for hanging baskets or sunny borders.

Calibrachoa, sometimes called Million Bells, are tender perennial plants often grown as annuals. Very similar to Petunias, they differ in some morphological characteristics: their flowers are smaller, their growth habit is shrub-like or herbaceous with a woody stem, their development is less significant, and they are more drought-tolerant. The hybrids that make up this group all belong to the Solanaceae family (like tomatoes) and are probably descended from an Argentinian species called Petunia integrifolia. The improved 'Noa' series stands out for its early and long-lasting flowering, good resistance to bad weather, and reduced maintenance needs.

The 'Noa Red' variety quickly forms a wider than tall clump, 20 to 25 cm (8-10 in) in height and 30 to 40 cm (1 ft- 1ft 4") in diameter. Its long, flexible stems are covered along their entire length with small, lanceolate, evergreen, fuzzy, and slightly sticky leaves of a dark green colour that beautifully enhance its magenta flowers with a purple halo and a yellow centre. The tireless flowering occurs from May until the frosts. Many trumpet-shaped flowers open at the axils of the leaves; they are 3 to 4 cm (1.2-1.6 in) wide and cover the faded flowers that fall off on their own.

The Calibrachoa 'Lia Dark Red' is ideal for hanging baskets, flowerbeds, or pots, but its heat resistance, tolerance to drought, and excellent flowering performance in the rain also allow it to be used in open ground, where it forms very pretty borders and colourful carpets in sunny flowerbeds. It can be planted alone or accompanied by 2 other varieties with complementary colours (white, blue, red, or purple) in tubs, flower pots, or planters on terraces, balconies, or patios. They are also good plants for conservatories. Their combination with Verbenas, Surfinia petunias, and Nemesias is  stunning. The choice is vast and allows for imagination and the taste 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.