Persimmon petunia is perpetuating a plant panic
There is a plant panic of sorts going on, and it is just now May. We are just getting into planting season in the South, and I can sense an urgency to find certain plants from my Facebook followers. Supertunia Persimmon petunia is at the top of the list.
I wrote about this plant last summer as I was trialing it. If a flower grabs my attention every time I walk in the garden, that's a pretty clear indicator of its marketability. Supertunia Persimmon is like none other in its color. In my yard, where I am a little sunlight-challenged, it always seems to be glowing like embers in a fire pit. The yellow throat somehow accentuates this.
Everyone who sees it wants it, as evidenced by my Facebook posts, where Supertunia Persimmon has been reaching 250,000-500,000 views. I can watch and read as the panic is spreading. One follower said, “You had better watch those pots tonight.” I know she was joking, but I alerted Tootie the bichon to be ready!
This year, Supertunia Persimmon petunias are still making me gawk. Even from my sunroom couch I am watching in some kind of trance. Out on the wall I have Supertunia Persimmon as a thriller of sorts with the cascading, chartreuse-leaved Goldilocks Creeping Jenny intermingled with Superbena Royale Chambray verbena.
On my patio I have planted a couple of bowls using different combinations with the Supertunia Persimmon. These bowls are unique to me, in that they offer a little more depth than I usually expect.
In one bowl I used Graceful Grasses Queen Tut papyrus as the center thriller. This was one of my panic plants this spring; wishing I had more. Around the Queen Tut papyrus are the Supertunia Persimmon, Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo and Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow petunias. You can see the idea here: The indigo will be an explosive contrast, while the yellow will echo the throat of the persimmon.
In the other bowl, I used Unplugged So Blue salvia as the center plant. Then around it I planted the Supertunia Persimmon, Superbells Grape Punch calibrachoa, Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow and Solenia Chocolate Orange begonia, which is in a prime partner location next to the persimmon. The dark chocolate foliage looks awesome next to the Supertunia Persimmon blossoms, and of course the extra-large double begonia flowers are a darker saturated orange and heavenly with the persimmon.
In the South, we have to do a little work on Supertunias in the way of cutting back. At some point in time, they will get tiredlooking and unproductive. Just think, I've already been growing these for a month and others were planted last fall, while up north, gardeners are still dodging frosts.