Petunia, Prostrate Petunia, Violet-Flowered Petunia, Wild Petunia 'Laura Bush'

Petunia

Family
Solanaceae (so-lan-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Petunia (peh-TEWN-ya)
Synonym
Petunia x violacea
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Smooth
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Lavender
Bloom Time
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Blooms repeatedly
Other Details
Category
Annuals
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Oak View, California

Jacksonville, Florida

Braselton, Georgia

Slidell, Louisiana

Morrice, Michigan

Crown Point, New York

Madison, Ohio

Zanesville, Ohio

Columbia, South Carolina

Arlington, Texas

Canyon Lake, Texas

Elgin, Texas

Ennis, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Hutto, Texas

New Caney, Texas

Richmond, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Spring, Texas

Newell, West Virginia

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

8
positives
0
neutral
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
B
Fayetteville, AR (Zone 6b) | November 2020 | positive

Multiple deep purple blooms on huge sprawling bushes.

Grew these from a seed mix that was supposed to have white, pink, m...Read More

E
Hutto, TX | April 2010 | positive

Planted in less than ideal conditions, sprinkled a few of the microscopic seeds in several bare spots about a month ago. They are up and ...Read More

Z
Zanesville, OH (Zone 6a) | May 2009 | positive

I wouldn't be without it! And I don't have to because if I let it go to seed at the end of the season, it comes back on it's own. Holds u...Read More

V
(Zone 8a) | March 2008 | positive

what a lovely petunia this is, a veritable blooming machine. No garden should be w/o it.

S
S
(Zone 7b) | May 2006 | positive

This one truly does stand up to the heat and intense southern sun, unlike other petunias. Does like to be pruned back occasionally to pr...Read More

F
F
Columbia, SC | November 2005 | positive

For the past 3 years, 'Laura Bush' has been one of the stars of my insufferably hot and humid Southeast Zone 8 gardens. Easy to grow by ...Read More

M
Morrice, MI | June 2005 | positive

I made cuttings over the winter and a few survived. They were leggy and pale but once the warm weather came they bloomed like crazy and f...Read More

M
M
Lufkin, TX | September 2003 | positive

Laura Bush petunias are excellent fillers in my daylily beds here in East Texas. When they get leggy, I just cut them back and it's not l...Read More

Featured
Blinded Sphinx Moth
(Paonias excaecatus)
Yellow-fronted Canary
(Crithagra mozambica)
Featured
Blinded Sphinx Moth
(Paonias excaecatus)
Yellow-fronted Canary
(Crithagra mozambica)