Petunia

petunia, any plant of the genus Petunia, South American herbs of the family Solanaceae (nightshade family). The common garden petunias, planted also in window boxes, are all considered hybrids of white-flowered and violet-flowered species from Argentina. The plants are of a straggling habit and produce an abundance of large, funnel-shaped, fragrant blossoms. Petunias are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Polemoniales, family Solanaceae.

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petunia

Any of many species of flowering plants in the genus Petunia, in the nightshade family, which originated in South America. The innumerable varieties of showy, trumpet-shaped flowers are immensely popular. There are two types: the compact, erect sort seen in summer garden beds, and the sprawling, long-stemmed sort seen in hanging baskets and window boxes. From early summer until frost, petunias bloom profusely with single or double blossoms; crisped, fringed, or ruffled flowers; and spectacular hues from pure white to deep crimson or purple, speckled or veined in contrasting colours. Leaves are soft, flabby, and covered with fine, sticky hairs. Technically perennials, petunias are most often grown as annuals.

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petunia

any solanaceous plant of the tropical American genus Petunia: cultivated for their white, pink, blue, or purple funnel-shaped flowers

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Petunia 

a genus of annual or perennial herbaceous plants of the family Solanaceae. The branching stems are often glandular-hairy. The leaves are entire, and the flowers are solitary and usually large. The corolla, which is violet, reddish, or white, has a cylindrical or hornlike tube and a funnelform or salverform blade with five lobes. The fruit is a capsule.

There are approximately 15 species (according to other data, as many as 40), distributed in South America and in the southern part of North America. Numerous varieties are used as annual ornamentals: they are used as plant borders or planted in flower beds or pots. The varieties are combined under the general name of the common garden petunia (P. × hybrida) and are differentiated according to stem length, size, and the shape and color of the flowers.