Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

BeddingConservatory Greenhouse

Petunia axillaris

large white petunia

This plant is relatively rare in cultivation, and is a large white flowering night-scented species of petunia native to temperate South America. It has been used as a parent in many petunia hybrid breeding programs. It has pure white highly-scented funnel shaped, trumpet flowers that can be 3 to 7cm across and flowers prolifically on a vigorous gently mounding plant.

Synonyms

Petunia nyctaginiflora

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
1 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Trailing, Spreading branched
Genus: Petunia can be annuals or perennials, with simple leaves and large, solitary, trumpet-shaped flowers in the upper leaf axils from late spring to autumn
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, with shelter from drying winds. Plant out after frosts have passed

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Can be slow to germinate. Seeds need gentle warmth and must not be covered

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants
Mediterranean climate plants
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead regularly

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and slugs

Diseases

May be subsceptible to grey moulds, foot rot and a virus

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.