Superbissima Giant Rose Petunia is a showstopping heirloom that defies expectations with blooms reaching nearly 7 inches across, their rose-colored petals dramatically ruffled like crepe paper. This isn't your typical petunia; it's a conversation piece that performs reliably in zones 2 through 11, flowering 70 to 85 days from seed. Baker Creek sources these magnificent plants from Černý Seed Company in the Czech Republic, where they've been preserved for their sheer audacity of size and delicate beauty.
Full Sun
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2-11
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These enormous rose-colored blooms with deeply ruffled edges challenge what most gardeners think a petunia can be. The petals hold a subtle sweetness and can be harvested for unexpected culinary uses: boiled petals yield a striking teal-colored beverage that transforms bright pink with a squeeze of lime, earning them a place in the kitchen as well as the garden. Their ability to thrive across an unusually wide hardiness range makes them accessible to nearly every gardener in North America.
While Superbissima Giant Rose Petunia is primarily grown as an ornamental for its spectacular blooms, the petals are edible and hold genuine culinary potential. Baker Creek's test kitchen experimented with the petals to create a "cherry" limeade: the blooms are boiled to extract a teal-colored beverage that shifts to bright pink with the addition of lime juice, creating both a visual and flavor surprise. This dual-purpose nature makes it appealing to gardeners interested in edible flowers and experimental kitchen work alongside traditional ornamental display.
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Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Petunia seeds are tiny and benefit from light for germination; sow them on the surface of moist seed-starting mix and do not cover them. Maintain a temperature around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and keep the soil surface consistently moist. Seedlings typically emerge within 7 to 14 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 10 inches apart in beds or containers, ensuring they have full sun exposure.
For ornamental enjoyment, blooms are ready to appreciate once fully open and the deeply ruffled petals have unfurled. For culinary use, harvest petals in the early morning when they are fully hydrated and at peak flavor. Select fully open blooms with unblemished petals. The sweetly fragrant petals can be used fresh or boiled to create the signature teal-colored beverage that shifts to bright pink with lime juice.
Pinch back seedlings when they develop their first true leaves to encourage bushier, more branched growth. Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the season to promote continuous flowering and prevent the plant from setting seed, which redirects energy away from flower production.
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“Superbissima Giant Rose Petunia originates from Černý Seed Company in the Czech Republic, a seed house with deep roots in Central European horticultural tradition. The variety represents the superbissima class of petunias, a group prized for their dramatic, heavily ruffled blooms and exceptional size. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds recognized the potential of this Czech treasure and brought it into their catalog, where it has gained recognition among gardeners who value both ornamental drama and functional beauty. The fact that it was tested in Baker Creek's own kitchen for its culinary properties speaks to the multi-dimensional appeal these heirloom seeds preserve.”