Super vigorous plants quickly fill out baskets and will grow 12-16” tall and spread to 24-30” wide. Petchoa are also “day-length neutral”, which means they bloom early and keep on flowering. Seldom do they suffer from that bane of all Texas gardeners Powdery Mildew. The plants are more alkaline tolerant than Calibrachoa so they don't turn yellow the moment you plant them. Unlike petunias the foliage isn't sticky, so dead flowers and debris doesn't stick to the leaves. ‘Supercal' Petchoa really does have the ideal combination of its parent's traits.
To be truthful neither petunias nor Calibrachoa really excel in the Dallas area, so how was this new hybrid really going to do for me? Well come to find out after 3 years of testing they have become one of our favorite cool season hanging basket and container plants, outlasting both of its parents every year. I was just getting familiar with the genus Calibrachoa, also commonly called Million Bells, which only appeared on the garden scene a few years back and now breeders have gone and crossed it with Petunias! As usual my first question to the breeder was “why the heck would you do that?” They answered it would offer the best of both parents making a “better” plant for our extreme climate. I remember my first question was “what the heck is it, or did they misspell the names on the tag?” I had to do some research and call the breeding company to discover that Petchoa is a new hybrid genus of the closely related Petunia and Calibrachoa (Million Bells), with ‘Supercal' as the variety name.
#Supercal petchoa perennials trial#
I certainly hadn't 3 years ago when we received our first plants for the Dallas Arboretum Trial Gardens. I bet you've probably never heard of the genus ‘Petchoa' or the variety ‘Supercal' before. Meet the vigorous new offspring of petunias and calibrachoa Submitted by Jimmy Turner, Senior Director of Gardens, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.Offering the best traits of both the Petunia and Calibrachoa, the Petchoa is as hardy as it is beautiful Because of its trailing habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. SuperCal® Terra Cotta Petchoa is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It can be propagated by cuttings however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water.
#Supercal petchoa perennials full#
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 inches apart. SuperCal® Terra Cotta Petchoa will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Mass Planting, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Container Planting, Hanging Baskets SuperCal® Terra Cotta Petchoa is recommended for the following landscape applications It has no significant negative characteristics. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition. SuperCal® Terra Cotta Petchoa is a dense herbaceous annual with a trailing habit of growth, eventually spilling over the edges of hanging baskets and containers.
The fruit is not ornamentally significant. Its pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the season. SuperCal® Terra Cotta Petchoa is draped in stunning peach trumpet-shaped flowers with coppery-bronze overtones and yellow centers at the ends of the stems from mid spring to late summer.
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