Petunia Surfinia Tumbelina Maria

The Petunia Tumbelina® Maria, with its subtly scented corollas full of intense azure blue petals, darker than those of 'Priscilla', brings a new dimension to the decoration of the terrace or balcony. Its entirely covered stems with large double flowers gracefully and voluptuously hang from pots and hanging baskets until late in the season. Drought and heat resistant, this annual plant appreciates sheltered and sunny situations as well as fertile, light, and fresh soils.

Hybrid petunias all come 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 covered in bright flowers on the edge of a field: Petunia inflata. Crossed with others, this species gave rise to trailing petunias, which were given the name Surfinias by marketing. The Tumbelina® series, developed in England, adds a pleasant touch of fragrance to the vigor and colours of this plant.

The trailing petunia 'Tumbelina Maria' 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 30 cm (12in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in diameter. It produces hundreds of flowers from June until the first night frosts, provided it is regularly fertilized. Its flowers are approximately 10 cm (4in) in diameter, with a celestial blue colour shaded with mauve on the edges and indigo towards the center and gently scented. The foliage, quite pubescent, has entire margins and a dark green colour.

No other flowering annual plant has been the subject of such thorough selection work by breeders for over a century. The results are impressive, as petunias compete with pelargoniums in terms of splendor and length of flowering, as demonstrated by this variety. Plant it in large pots or hanging baskets, above 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 borders, in large groups, to punctuate gray foliage plants such as cerastiums or artemisias, or cover the base of roses.

Green plants measuring 4 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in 5 small plug plants measuring 2.8 cm (1in) in diameter and 4 cm (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 under shelter (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.