Petunias originated in Argentina and the surrounding region. They get their name from a word the French borrowed – ‘petun’– meaning tobacco.
The common garden Petunia, Petunia x hybrida is a result of crosses between Petunia axillaris, Petunia inflata and Petunia violaceae all of which are native to South America. Petunias are closely related to tobacco, tomatoes and potatoes and come from the Solanaceae family. There are approximately 35 species in this genus, two of the oldest types being Grandifloras, which have large flowers, and Multifloras, which hold up better in the rain.
There are many hybrid varieties on the market with ruffled or smooth petals, striped and veined in a variety of
