Petunia Surfinia Tumbelina Candyfloss

The Petunia Tumbelina® Candyfloss,  with its subtly scented corollas full of intense pink petals and its magnificent habit, works wonders in pots and hanging baskets. Its large ruffled flowers bloom on young plants early in the season and continue until October, forming cascades of spectacular flowers. Drought and heat resistant, this annual plant thrives in sheltered and sunny situations as well as in fertile, light, and moist soils.

Hybrid petunias are all derived from several plants native to the warm regions of South America. The chance discovery of trailing petunias occurred in 1989 when a scientist noticed a particularly vigorous wild petunia with bright flowers on the edge of a field: Petunia inflata. Crossbred with others, this species gave rise to trailing petunias, which were given the name Surfinias by the marketing industry. The Tumbellna® series, developed in England, adds a pleasant touch of fragrance to the vigor and colours of this plant.

The semi-trailing Petunia 'Tumbelina Candyfloss' belongs to the solanaceae family and is closely related to ornamental tobacco, for example, its foliage also contains alkaloids. This plant quickly forms a dense and spreading clump, wider than it is tall, reaching a height of 30 cm (12in) and a diameter of 50 cm (20in). It produces hundreds of flowers from June until the first nighttime frost, provided it is regularly fertilized. Its flowers measure approximately 10 cm (4in) in diameter and are intensely pink, finely veined with deep pink, and gently scented. The foliage, quite pubescent, has entire edges and a dark green colour.

No other flowering annual plant has undergone such extensive selection work by breeders for over a century. The results are impressive, as petunias rival geraniums in splendor and length of flowering, as demonstrated by this Candyfloss variety. Plant it in large pots or hanging baskets, above low walls, wherever its flower-covered stems can cascade. 5 identical or mixed-colour plants are enough to fill a large flower pot. You can also plant them in massifs, in large swaths, to punctuate borders of gray-leaved plants such as ceraistes or artemisias, or cover the base of roses.

Green plants measuring 4 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in 5 small plug plants of 2.8cm (1in) in diameter and 4cm (2in) in height. Our plants are at least eight weeks old and strong enough to be planted in open ground.

Note: Attention, our young plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them in sheltered areas (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame) at a temperature above 14C° for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost is definitively eliminated.