Mini petunias often refer to the flowering plant known as calibrachoa.
Calibrachoa is a popular flowering plant that bears a strong resemblance to petunias, but with significantly smaller blossoms. This striking similarity in appearance, combined with the reduced size of the flowers, leads to the common nickname "mini petunias."
Understanding Calibrachoa
As noted in a reference, calibrachoa resembles a tiny petunia. While they look alike and both belong to the same plant family (Solanaceae), they are distinct genera (Calibrachoa vs. Petunia). This distinction is important botanically, but for gardening purposes, the visual similarity is the key characteristic that earns calibrachoa the "mini petunia" moniker.
Key Characteristics
- Flower Size: Much smaller than typical petunia flowers, usually less than an inch in diameter.
- Growth Habit: Often trails or mounds, making them excellent for hanging baskets, containers, and as groundcover.
- Variety: Available in a vast array of colors, including solid colors, stripes, and patterns.
- Bloom Time: Typically blooms profusely from spring until frost.
Calibrachoa vs. Petunia
While they look similar, there are differences beyond just flower size:
| Feature | Calibrachoa | Petunia |
|---|---|---|
| Common Name | Mini Petunia, Million Bells | Petunia |
| Flower Size | Small (approx. 1") | Medium to Large (1-4") |
| Growth | Trailing/Mounding | Mounding/Spreading/Trailing |
| Deadheading | Often self-cleaning | Usually requires deadheading |
The self-cleaning nature of many calibrachoa varieties (meaning faded flowers drop off on their own) is another practical difference that makes them popular for low-maintenance gardening.
In summary, when people refer to "mini petunias," they are almost certainly talking about calibrachoa, a charming plant celebrated for its abundance of small, petunia-like flowers.
