How to Grow Petunia Grandiflora Superbissima Double Wave Purple
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Petunia Grandiflora Superbissima Double Wave Purple
Petunia × hybrida
flowerThis is a large-flowered double petunia cultivar featuring ruffled, deep purple blooms with a cascading, wave-like growth habit. It produces abundant, densely-petaled flowers throughout the season and works excellently in containers, hanging baskets, and mixed borders. The 'Double Wave' series combines the showy, full flowers of Grandiflora types with the vigorous, spreading growth characteristic of Wave petunias.
When should you plant Petunia Grandiflora Superbissima Double Wave Purple in your zone?
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Example Petunia Grandiflora Superbissima Double Wave Purple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Petunia Grandiflora Superbissima Double Wave Purple
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Petunia Grandiflora Superbissima Double Wave Purple blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 3-11; grown as an annual in cooler zones, perennial in warmer zones
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Seedling
7-14 daysTiny emerging seedlings with first true leaves appearing. Plants are delicate and pale green.
Keep soil moist but not soggy. Provide bright, indirect light and maintain temperatures of 70-75°F. Use a humidity dome to prevent damping off. Thin seedlings if crowded.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlants develop multiple sets of leaves and begin branching. Stems elongate and bushy structure forms.
Pinch off the top 1/4 inch of growing tips when plants are 3-4 inches tall to encourage bushier growth. Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions (hardening off). Maintain consistent moisture and begin fertilizing weekly with diluted balanced fertilizer.
Budding
2-3 weeksFlower buds form at branch tips. Plants appear increasingly compact with visible bud clusters emerging.
Continue pinching if plants are still sparse; cease pinching 2-3 weeks before desired bloom time. Maintain full sun exposure and consistent watering. Switch to a slightly higher phosphorus fertilizer to support flowering.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (until frost in cooler zones)Large, ruffled double purple flowers bloom profusely. Wave growth habit becomes pronounced with cascading stems laden with blooms.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming (remove entire flower stems). Water regularly and deeply. Fertilize every 7-10 days with bloom-boosting fertilizer (higher phosphorus). Cut back leggy stems by 1/3 in mid-summer if needed.
Decline
Variable (weeks to months depending on climate)Flowering slows as temperatures cool or conditions become less favorable. Plants may become leggy or sparse.
In fall, reduce watering frequency. In warm zones (9+), cut back by 1/3 and provide winter rest period. In cooler zones, plants will die back with the first frost; remove and compost.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap; neem oil; increase air circulation
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Regular misting to increase humidity; insecticidal soap; neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves
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Hand-pick if few; Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; spinosad
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Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove infected flowers; apply fungicide if severe
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Reduce humidity; improve air flow; sulfur dust or powdery mildew fungicide spray
Uses
Cut Flower Arrangements
HouseholdThe large, showy double flowers are excellent for fresh floral arrangements and bouquets. They last several days in water and add substantial color and texture to indoor displays. [source]
Container and Basket Gardening
HouseholdThe cascading wave habit makes this petunia ideal for hanging baskets, container gardens, and mixed planters on patios and porches. The double flowers create dramatic visual impact in small spaces. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifePetunias attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with their abundant nectar and pollen. While double varieties produce less nectar than single forms, they still provide valuable food sources for pollinators. [source]
Floral Design and Events
CraftThe dramatic ruffled purple blooms are popular in floral design, wedding arrangements, and event decorations. Their substantial size and full form make them focal flowers in professional arrangements. [source]
Garden Color and Landscape Design
HouseholdThese petunias provide vivid, long-lasting color in garden borders, mixed beds, and landscape installations from early summer through frost. The deep purple hue coordinates well with silver foliage and warm-colored companion plants. [source]
Harvest Tips
Petunias are ornamental flowers not typically harvested for food. For cut flowers, pick in early morning when blooms are fully open. Remove lower foliage before placing in water. Deadhead spent flowers at the base of the stem regularly (2-3 times per week) to promote continuous blooming throughout the season. Pinch back leggy growth in mid-summer to rejuvenate plants.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'petunia' comes from a Tupi word meaning 'tobacco plant,' as petunias are in the same Solanaceae family as tobacco and tomatoes.
- 🌱 The 'Wave' series of petunias revolutionized container gardening in the 1990s, with the spreading, cascading plants producing far more flowers than traditional petunias—Double Wave varieties combine this vigor with large, fully-double blooms.
- 🌱 Petunias were originally native to South America, particularly Argentina and Brazil, and have been extensively hybridized for over 200 years to create the vast array of modern cultivars like this Grandiflora Superbissima form.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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