Petunia Phantom Petunia Phantom = 'Balpephan' (PBR)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Petunia Phantom, also commonly referred to simply as Petunia, presents a striking appearance with its unique flower pattern. The blooms carry an impressive black base color, which is vividly contrasted with a distinctive star-shaped pattern in a creamy yellow or sometimes white hue at the center. This stark contrast gives the flowers a dramatic, almost theatrical look that can draw attention in any garden or floral arrangement. The petals are moderately sized and plentiful, with each flower exhibiting a smooth, funnel-like formation that is characteristic of petunias. The throat of the flower, which is the central part of the bloom where the star pattern converges, deepens into an almost velvety blackness, enhancing the illusion of depth and creating a mesmerizing focal point. Petunia Phantom's foliage is also noteworthy, typically a lush green that serves as the perfect backdrop to the spectacular blossoms. The leaves are of an oval to oblong shape, contributing to the overall bushy and full appearance of the plant. Their texture is somewhat sticky to the touch—which is common among petunias—and they have a slightly serrated edge. Throughout its blooming season, Petunia Phantom can create an alluring display of color and contrast, with the eye-catching flowers prominently showcased against the pleasing greenery. It's a plant that not only adds a splash of vivid colors to its environment but does so with a flair that can elevate the visual appeal of any space it occupies.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Black Petunia, Phantom Petunia.
- Common names
  Petunia × atkinsiana 'Balpephan' (PBR).
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Petunia, including the Petunia Phantom, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. They are not known for causing poisoning if ingested. However, consuming any plant material may potentially cause gastrointestinal discomfort due to the presence of unusual compounds that the human body is not accustomed to digesting. Symptoms of ingesting plant parts could include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in some individuals, but these are not common reactions and largely depend on the sensitivity of the person involved and the amount ingested.
- To pets
  The Petunia, which includes the Petunia Phantom, is typically recognized as non-toxic to both dogs and cats. If a pet ingests parts of a Petunia plant, they are unlikely to experience symptoms of poisoning. Nevertheless, as with any non-food plant, ingestion could conceivably result in mild gastrointestinal upset in some pets, including symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea, particularly if consumed in large quantities. However, such reactions are not commonly reported.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Black yellow
- Height
  1 feet (30 cm)
- Spread
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Visual Appeal: The Petunia Phantom offers striking black and yellow star-patterned blooms that create a stunning visual impact in gardens and containers.
- Continuous Bloom: This variety of petunia is known for its long flowering season, often blooming from spring until the first frost.
- Versatility: It can be used in a variety of garden settings, including borders, beds, and as a showy container plant.
- Low Maintenance: Petunias generally require little care beyond regular watering and occasional fertilization, making them a great option for busy gardeners.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, petunias can tolerate brief periods of drought, making them suitable for warmer climates.
- Attracts Pollinators: Petunias can attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to the garden, promoting biodiversity.
- Easy to Propagate: Gardeners can easily propagate petunias through cuttings, allowing them to quickly expand their flowering displays.
- Space Filler: With its bushy growth habit, the Petunia Phantom can fill up empty garden spaces, providing fullness to a garden design.
- Adaptability: Petunias thrive in full sun to partial shade, adapting to a range of light conditions.
- Color Stability: This variety maintains its vibrant color well throughout the season, without significant fading.
Medical Properties
- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Floral Perfume: The strong and pleasant fragrance of the petunia can be distilled or infused into oils for use in floral perfume concoctions.
- Photography Subject: Petunias, with their striking colors and patterns, are popular subjects for photographers looking to capture the beauty of flowers in their work.
- Culinary Garnish: While not commonly consumed, petunia flowers can be used as an ornamental edible garnish to brighten up salads and desserts.
- Artistic Inspiration: The distinctive appearance of petunias often serves as inspiration for artists and can be found in paintings, textile patterns, and other decorative arts.
- Educational Tool: Petunias can be used in educational settings to teach about plant biology, hybridization, and pollination processes.
- Color Dye: The vibrant petals of petunias can be used to create natural dyes for coloring fabrics, crafts, or even cosmetics.
- Feng Shui: In the practice of Feng Shui, petunias may be used to attract positive energy to a home or garden due to their bright colors and lively growth patterns.
- Hobby Breeding: Enthusiasts may use petunias for amateur breeding experiments, cross-pollinating different varieties to create new and unique hybrids.
- Plant Crafts: The flowers and foliage of petunias can be incorporated into craft projects, such as making flower arrangements, wreaths, or pressed flower art.
- Petal Confetti: Dried petals of petunias can serve as a biodegradable confetti alternative for celebrations, creating a colorful and eco-friendly option for special events.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Petunia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Petunia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Anger and Resentment: In the language of flowers, petunias can signify feelings of anger and resentment, particularly because they can thrive in less-than-ideal conditions, just as one might persist through negative emotions.
- Soothing Presence: The Petunia Phantom’s dark and mysterious colors also bring a sense of calm and tranquility, symbolizing a soothing presence in the face of adversity or distress.
- Desire and Passion: Petunias are sometimes connected to the symbolism of desire and passion, as their vibrant colors can evoke strong emotional responses.

💧

Every 5-7 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Petunias, including the Petunia Phantom, require consistent watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Watering frequency may vary, but generally, they should be watered once every 2-3 days during hot, dry periods. It's best to check the top inch of soil for dryness and water if it feels dry to the touch. Depending on the size of the plant and the weather conditions, a petunia in a container might need about 1 gallon of water per week. Always water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to diseases.
Light
Petunias, like the Petunia Phantom, thrive in full sun conditions, where they can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They perform best when they are planted in a location that provides bright and unfiltered light for the majority of the day. Avoid deep shade areas as this will hinder their blooming and overall growth.
Temperature
Petunias, such as the Petunia Phantom, prefer warm conditions and are generally grown as annuals. They can survive in temperatures as low as 40°F but prefer a range between 60°F and 80°F for optimal growth. They can tolerate high temperatures but should be protected from frost and cold weather, which can damage or kill the plant.
Pruning
Pruning Petunia Phantom encourages bushier growth and more blooms. Deadheading, or removing the spent flowers, should be done regularly to promote continuous flowering. Cut back the stems by a few inches during the midsummer to rejuvenate the plant if it becomes leggy. The best time for more extensive pruning is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Petunias prefer well-draining soil with a mix of peat moss, perlite, and garden loam, with an ideal pH between 5.5 to 6.5 for optimal growth.
Repotting
Petunias should be repotted yearly to replenish nutrients in the soil and promote healthy growth.
Humidity & Misting
Petunias thrive in moderate ambient humidity levels, usually between 40% and 70%.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place petunias in bright, indirect light; maintain moist soil.
- Outdoor
  Choose sunny spot; plant in rich, well-drained soil.
- Hardiness zone
  Petunias are typically grown as annuals and are suitable for USDA zones 9-11.
Life cycle
Petunia, specifically the Phantom variety, begins its life cycle as a seed, which once sown in warm, moist soil, germinates typically within 1 to 2 weeks. Upon germination, the seedling emerges with cotyledons and true leaves begin to form as the plant enters the vegetative stage, during which it develops its root system and foliage. As it matures, the petunia begins to bud; this flowering stage can be stimulated by long periods of daylight and typically occurs within a few weeks to a couple of months after planting, depending on conditions. The flowers are the reproductive parts of the plant, and once pollinated by insects or other means, they will eventually develop into seed capsules. As the season progresses, if conditions remain favorable, the petunia can continuously produce flowers throughout the growing season. Eventually, as temperatures drop or conditions become unfavorable, the Phantom petunia will enter a period of dormancy or die, completing its annual life cycle, unless it's grown in a climate where it behaves as a perennial.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagating the Petunia Phantom, which is also referred to as 'Balpephan' (PBR), is through cuttings. This technique typically involves taking a 3 to 4-inch (7.6 to 10.2 cm) long stem from a healthy, mature plant during its growing season, which is usually in the spring or early summer. The cut end of the stem is often dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage rooting before being planted in a well-draining soil mix. The cutting should be kept in a warm, brightly lit area, but out of direct sunlight, and the soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can be gradually acclimatized to outdoor conditions before being transplanted into the garden or larger pots.