Petunia exserta would seem to have a lot going for it:
1) It's nearly extinct in the wild.
2) It has red flowers--the only naturally occurring ones in its genus.
3) It's hummingbird pollinated--also the only one in it's genus.
4) Bugs stick to the leaves--it's not carnivorous, but at least they die.
5) It's a perennial--at least in places where it doesn't get below 25 F.
6) It's easy, and fast, to grow and bloom.
7) It grows easily, inside or outside.
Any finally, seeds are free, although the ones I have are about a year and a half old, and have not been tested for viability. That latter situation could be corrected in about 10-14 days... As tiny, almost dust-like seeds, they should avoid the USPS rollers and are easy and almost free to ship.
So why aren't these more popular? Chances are because it's "just" a Petunia.
Anyway, I decided to post this because I got my first accidental bloom of the year, inside. The pot was one that I brought inside for reasons I don't remember--it was for fatbunny (TF member), and contained a Bomarea salsilla plant. The Bomarea either went dormant given my 24 hr lights or died (probably there's still strong hope). However in the pot sprouted 3 seedlings. At first I thought they might be the closely related Nicotiana (and P. exserta flowers look more like a Nicotiana than do those of any other Petunia). However, it became clear it was Petunia exerta, especially when the first flower opened today.
I've been surprised in the past how well this plant does under lights inside. Since there are not a huge number of plants that are trivial to grow under lights and produce bright red flowers, quickly, I think this feature of the plant is one that needs to be pursued further.
Here's that first flower, along with the 2 other (temporarily) unbloomed seedlings that came up in the Bomarea's pot:
A closeup view:
A different view, which shows stuck bugs that are not meals for the Petunia:
And finally, a better view of a larger plant (from Annie's Annuals) showing more mature, fully opened flowers grown in the sun:
1) It's nearly extinct in the wild.
2) It has red flowers--the only naturally occurring ones in its genus.
3) It's hummingbird pollinated--also the only one in it's genus.
4) Bugs stick to the leaves--it's not carnivorous, but at least they die.
5) It's a perennial--at least in places where it doesn't get below 25 F.
6) It's easy, and fast, to grow and bloom.
7) It grows easily, inside or outside.
Any finally, seeds are free, although the ones I have are about a year and a half old, and have not been tested for viability. That latter situation could be corrected in about 10-14 days... As tiny, almost dust-like seeds, they should avoid the USPS rollers and are easy and almost free to ship.
So why aren't these more popular? Chances are because it's "just" a Petunia.
Anyway, I decided to post this because I got my first accidental bloom of the year, inside. The pot was one that I brought inside for reasons I don't remember--it was for fatbunny (TF member), and contained a Bomarea salsilla plant. The Bomarea either went dormant given my 24 hr lights or died (probably there's still strong hope). However in the pot sprouted 3 seedlings. At first I thought they might be the closely related Nicotiana (and P. exserta flowers look more like a Nicotiana than do those of any other Petunia). However, it became clear it was Petunia exerta, especially when the first flower opened today.
I've been surprised in the past how well this plant does under lights inside. Since there are not a huge number of plants that are trivial to grow under lights and produce bright red flowers, quickly, I think this feature of the plant is one that needs to be pursued further.
Here's that first flower, along with the 2 other (temporarily) unbloomed seedlings that came up in the Bomarea's pot:
A closeup view:
A different view, which shows stuck bugs that are not meals for the Petunia:
And finally, a better view of a larger plant (from Annie's Annuals) showing more mature, fully opened flowers grown in the sun: