Just as there is no such thing as an easter lily(which is simply a white trumpet lily grown out of season)there are no actual Christmas petunias.However,this is somewhat of a Christmas miracle.Grown from old seed,this plant was the only one of it's siblings to spout(sown on 6.8.10 & began flowering in mid september).With the exception of these pictures,this outdoor summer sun loving plant has spent it's entire life indoors under poor lighting conditions.Although kept indoors this petunia has survived attacts from fungus gnats,aphids & powdery mildew...as well as a fluorescent light falling on top of it,& toppling over twice,(surviving to see a Buffalo Christmas might be more than just luck).This petunia's mother plant was a beautiful royal blue & gold,& it's father plant was a variety known as celebrity yellow.The Christmas petunia can trace back it's heritage to flowers I've grow since the mid/late 1990's.Fun facts:The 1st petunia was discovered in 1822,it was white with a long flower tube & an upright growing habit.A 2nd species was discovered about 11 years later,it was a violet/purple with a short flower tube & a decumbent growing habit.These two species were cross bred & virtually all modern garden petunias are the descendents of this cross.The 1st red petunia was developed in the 1950's,the 1st yellow petunia,named "summer sun" was developed in 1977 by Claud Hope.The 1st black petunia was made available just last year!It's been called black velvet & black cat.
The Christmas petunia in Buffalo,NY
Gallery
The Christmas Petunia!
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