Petunia Petunia Surfinia Sky Blue = 'Keilavbu' (PBR) (Surfinia Series)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Petunia Surfinia Sky Blue, often referred to simply as Surfinia Petunia, is a vibrant garden plant with an enchanting appearance. The main allure of this variety comes from its luxurious bloom. The flowers are a soft sky-blue hue that captures the essence of a clear, sunny sky. Each blossom is trumpet-shaped, which is a hallmark of the petunia family, with a slightly flared outer edge that adds to its aesthetic appeal. The delicate veining on the flowers creates an intricate pattern, hinting at a deeper blue that contrasts elegantly against the lighter background. The plant itself produces an abundance of these flowers, which often cover the entire foliage when in full bloom. The leaves are a pleasing green, creating a lush backdrop for the brilliant blue flowers. Overall, the Surfinia Petunia presents as a cascade of color, renowned for its trailing habit that makes it especially popular for hanging baskets and as a spiller plant in container arrangements. The appealing soft blue petals and the prolific flowering nature of this plant make it a favorite among gardeners looking to add a splash of serene color to their outdoor spaces.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Sky Blue Surfinia, Blue Petunia, Surfinia Petunia, Trailing Petunia.
- Common names
  Petunia × atkinsiana 'Keilavbu', Petunia hybrida 'Keilavbu'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Petunia, including the Surfinia variety, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of this plant typically does not lead to poisoning or severe side effects. However, it's always advisable to avoid eating ornamental plants as they are not intended for human consumption, and individual allergic reactions or gastrointestinal discomfort could occur in certain sensitive individuals.
- To pets
  The Petunia, which includes the Surfinia variety, is not known to be toxic to pets. It is generally considered safe around animals, including cats and dogs. Should a pet ingest parts of this plant, it is unlikely to suffer from poisoning, but as with humans, ingestion of non-food plants can sometimes result in mild gastrointestinal upset or an allergic reaction in some pets.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Sky blue
- Height
  1 feet (0.3 meters)
- Spread
  2 feet (0.6 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  South America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Vibrant Color Display: Petunia Surfinia Sky Blue offers a brilliant display of sky blue flowers that can add a vivid splash of color to gardens, balconies, and hanging baskets.
- Continuous Blooming: This variety is known for its long flowering period, providing continuous blooms from spring until the first frosts of autumn.
- Low Maintenance: Petunias are relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance, which makes them suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Trailing Growth Habit: With its cascading growth, this Petunia is ideal for creating a draping effect in containers, hanging baskets, and over garden edges.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Petunia Surfinia Sky Blue is relatively drought-tolerant, making it suitable for locations with less frequent watering.
- Attracts Pollinators: The colorful blooms can attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden, which helps pollinate other plants and contributes to biodiversity.
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
- Artistic Dye: Petunia petals can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics or paper, adding a unique sky-blue hue to the material.
- Photography Prop: The vibrant color of Surfinia Sky Blue petunias makes them a popular choice for photographers looking for natural, colorful props in their compositions.
- Culinary Decoration: Although not common, the flowers can be used as edible decorations for desserts and cocktails, giving them an elegant and colorful touch.
- Educational Tool: In schools, Surfinia Sky Blue petunias can be used to teach students about plant growth, hybridization, and genetics due to their distinct characteristics.
- Float Decorations: The bright flowers are often used in decorating floats for parades because they can cover large areas and create striking visual effects.
- Themed Parties: For events with color themes, such as baby showers or weddings, these petunias can enhance the decor with their soft blue tones.
- Creative Crafts: The flowers can be incorporated into scrapbooking, card making, or other paper crafts, adding natural beauty to creative projects.
- Fragrance Extraction: The subtle fragrance of Surfinia Sky Blue petunias can be extracted and used to make naturally-scented candles or homemade potpourris.
- Mood Enhancer: Due to their calming color, these petunias can be strategically placed in office spaces or homes to create a more relaxing atmosphere.
- Color Inspiration: Artists and designers can use Surfinia Sky Blue petunias as a muse for color palettes in visual art, interior design, or fashion.

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: In the language of flowers, petunias can sometimes represent anger or resentment, perhaps due to their boldness and the way they can take over a space.
- Resentment: Closely tied to the symbolism for anger, petunias can symbolize a feeling of resentment when given or displayed, implying a sense of dissatisfaction or grudge.
- Desire: Petunias can also signify a desire or longing for someone's presence or for something that is just out of reach.
- Comfort: The soothing color of the 'Sky Blue' variety can evoke a sense of peace and comfort, symbolizing a comforting presence in one's life or a wish for tranquility.
- Peace: Similarly to comfort, the gentle hue of blue in the Petunia Surfinia Sky Blue can symbolize peace and calmness, representing a desire for serene environments or relationships.

💧

Every 1-2 days

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Surfinia petunias, like the Surfinia Sky Blue, should be watered thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During the hot summer months, this may mean watering daily, especially if they're in containers or hanging baskets which dry out more quickly. Use lukewarm water and ensure that it soaks the soil completely until water runs out of the drainage holes. For an average-sized hanging basket, this might be about 1-2 gallons per week, depending on climate conditions and plant size. However, be cautious not to overwater, as standing water could lead to root rot.
Light
Surfinia petunias thrive in full sun conditions, which means they need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a spot where the plant will receive ample morning light and some protection from the intense late afternoon sun if you live in a very hot climate. Avoid placing them in full shade, as this will significantly reduce blooming.
Temperature
Surfinia petunias prefer a temperature range between 60°F and 75°F for optimal growth. They can tolerate temperatures as low as 40°F and as high as 90°F, but prolonged exposure outside this range can stress the plant. They are not frost-tolerant, and freezing temperatures will damage or kill them.
Pruning
Pruning Surfinia petunias encourages bushier growth and more blooms. Pinch off the tips of the stems and any spent flowers throughout the growing season to promote branching. Perform a more thorough pruning in midsummer if the plant becomes leggy, removing up to one-third of the plant's length. The best time to prune is on an overcast day to prevent sun stress.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Surfinia petunias thrive in a well-draining potting mix with added perlite or vermiculite. An ideal soil pH for these plants is between 5.5 and 6.5. Amend soil with compost to increase fertility.
Repotting
Surfinia petunias should be repotted annually, ideally in the spring before the onset of the growing season, to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth.
Humidity & Misting
Surfinia petunias prefer moderate humidity levels, but being versatile, they can tolerate a range from relatively dry to average household humidity conditions.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and ensure good air circulation.
- Outdoor
  Ensure full sun exposure and protect from intense midday heat.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
The life of Petunia Surfinia Sky Blue begins with seed germination, typically in early spring when temperature conditions are suitable. Upon germination, the seedlings will establish a root system and develop their first set of true leaves. As the seedlings mature, they enter the vegetative stage, during which they grow rapidly and produce a profusion of leaves and stems. Following this, the petunias enter the flowering stage, characterized by the development of distinctive sky-blue blossoms, and this stage can last throughout the summer and into the fall, depending on the climate. The plant will then go through pollination, potentially by insects or other means, leading to seed production if conditions are favorable. As temperatures drop or conditions become less suitable, the petunia Surfinia Sky Blue will either die back if it is treated as an annual or enter a period of dormancy if grown in a region where it can survive as a perennial.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- The Petunia 'Surfinia Sky Blue', an ornamental flowering plant prized for its cascading blooms, is commonly propagated through cuttings. This method is favored because it ensures that the new plants will retain the exact characteristics of the parent. To propagate by cuttings, a gardener would typically take 4- to 6-inch (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters) long stem segments from a healthy Petunia 'Surfinia Sky Blue' plant during its active growing season, which is usually in the spring or early summer. These snippets, or cuttings, should have several leaf nodes and the leaves from the lower half of the cutting should be removed. The stem cutting is then dipped in rooting hormone and placed in a well-draining potting mix or directly into the garden in a spot that gets indirect sunlight. Keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged is critical for encouraging root development. Within a matter of weeks, the cuttings will develop their own root systems and can be treated as independent plants.