Petunia ‘Pink Laura Bush’

Petunia x violacea

Characteristics

Culture

Petunia ‘Pink Laura Bush’ is a hardy, reseeding annual variety native to South America. This rugged old-fashioned petunia variety was bred for heat tolerance and disease resistance. The Laura Bush Petunia scoffs at extreme summer temperatures, producing numerous 1 – 1 ½ inch bell-shaped pink colored flowers. As the mercury rises in the dog days of summer, this plant consistently blooms. As an added bonus the dark green foliage serves as a background to compliment the vibrant flowers that practically glow. Prefers full sun in well drained, fertile soil. Very low maintenance and quite impressive!  Regular trimming (by one third) every 6 to 8 weeks is one of the most ignored management tips – no one ever wants to cut off blooms, and few people want to be out cutting off anything during the summer months but Laura Bush will definitely benefit from periodic trimming.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Whether you are a petunia lover or not, the arrival of the Laura Bush petunia is exciting news for all Texas flower gardeners. As everyone knows, bedding petunias are great cool-season bloomers but seldom make it through the summer heat, so they must be replaced with summer annuals.  Old-fashioned petunias come in softer colors, have a deep, heady petunia scent and endure the hardships of the Texas climate by putting out lots of seed and sprouting again when the weather is more agreeable.  The Laura Bush petunia is also an offspring of two parent petunias, bred to suit the Texas climate, tolerant of heat as well as cold, with plenty of bright color yet retaining the lovely, old-fashioned petunia scent. 

Problems

In the wetter times of the year, watch for slugs and snails, who love to feast on all petunias’ tender foliage. Keep in mind that overhead watering can spread fungus and spoil blooms.

Garden Uses

Laura Bush is spreading in form, making a mounding rather than compact plant.