Petunia hybrida

Botanical Name: 
Petunia hybrida
Family: 
Tomato Family (Solanaceae)
Origin: 
Many hybrids of original South American species
At Hearst Castle: 
In Mr. Hearst's day, Petunias were planted extensively for summer color in flower beds and pots throughout the grounds of the Enchanted Hill. Today they are planted by our grounds staff in non-drought years.

An herbaceous perennial when grown in milder climates, often used as a summer annual in cold weather climates. Plants grow from 1-2 feet tall and from 1.5-3 feet wide. The leaves are broadly oval to 2 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, soft, lightly fuzzy both above and below, and somewhat sticky to the touch. flowers are either funnel-shaped (single) or ruffled (double), from 1.5 to 6 inches wide, depending on the cultivar. Flower colors include white, cream, yellow, pale pink to deep red, and light blue to deep purple. The flowers are somewhat fragrant.

Comments: 
Following are two excerpts from letters sent by Mr. Hearst to Miss Morgan: (June 15, 1926) "We can get some of best effects with petunias. I do not think we should miss our beds of petunias in the replanting of the Temple garden areas; or if we do not find opportunity there for the beds in sufficient quantities, let us string them all along that side of the Hill in banks above the road within the railing." (November 26, 1928) "I like our petunias in all kinds of mixed colors, and I like the double petunia and the quadruple petunia, if there are any such thing."
Description: 
An herbaceous perennial when grown in milder climates, often used as a summer annual in cold weather climates. Plants grow from 1-2 feet tall and from 1.5-3 feet wide. The leaves are broadly oval to 2 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, soft, lightly fuzzy both above and below, and somewhat sticky to the touch. flowers are either funnel-shaped (single) or ruffled (double), from 1.5 to 6 inches wide, depending on the cultivar. Flower colors include white, cream, yellow, pale pink to deep red, and light blue to deep purple. The flowers are somewhat fragrant.