Petunias are one of the best plants for landscape performance in the spring. We can plant petunias in Louisiana September through November and in the late winter/early spring (ideally late January through early March). They can be a cool-season and warm-season bedding plant.

The popularity of petunias is increasing due to the release of a number of new varieties over the past ten years. Old petunias belong to growth-habit classes that are referred to as multiflora or grandiflora. Multiflora petunias flower more freely and seem to hold up slightly better in adverse weather conditions and heat than do grandiflora petunias. The multifloras have flowers 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter while the grandifloras are more known for being larger flowered ( 3 to 4 inches). These are still popular and include the Madness and other popular varieties.

The newest varieties of petunias, however, are now the most popular and are propagated by seed and are classified as spreading type plants. Low-growing, spreading plants that reach only 6 to 12 inches in height, spreading petunias can be used as a flowering ground cover, in full sun, as well as trailing in hanging baskets. Flowers form along the entire length of each stem and are produced prolifically all season without the stems being trimmed back. The flowers, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, are available in numerous colors. Spreading petunias stand up particularly well to heat and humidity. Popular series include the Wave types, Explorer, Plush, Ramblin and Supercascade.

Petunias are related to tomatoes, peppers and tobacco. They have light fragrance to the flowers. Some people say that new petunia varieties do not have the fragrance like old petunia varieties. Still, a mass planting of petunias will yield some nice fragrance as you walk by.

The most popular petunia currently is the Wave series. These petunias are available in several colors-purple, pink, rose, misty lilac, lavender and blue. Pink, rose, misty lilac and lavender are the best of these six, although purple was named an All-America Selection winner in 1996. They grow about 24 to 30 inches wide and reach heights of 8 to 10 inches.

Cousins of the Wave petunia are the Easy Wave and Tidal Wave series. The Easy Wave petunias have a few more colors available than the Wave group. Options are pink, blue, rosy dawn, salmon, white, red, shell pink and coral reef. They fit better into containers and have a better growth habit for hanging baskets.

The Tidal Waves are just as the name implies-the largest of these type petunias. Tidal Wave petunias come in cherry, pink, silver and purple and can be 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. These petunias are referred to as "hedgiflora" types.

Petunias planted in the fall will outperform petunias planted in the spring, but you can still get some nice petunias at garden centers in South Louisiana through March. If petunias are planted early enough in the fall they will flower in the fall. Also, an earlier fall planting will allow petunias to become better established prior to cold weather commencement.

Plants need full sun and a well-drained landscape bed. They prefer slightly acid soil conditions. Fertilize at planting, and irrigate to aid in establishment and when rainfall is lacking for a week to ten days. Normally, petunias have peak flowering in April through early May but provide three months of flower color in the late winter through late spring landscape. Usually, the heat of June and July leads to their downfall.

The Wave, Easy Wave and Tidal Wave petunias are be excellent varieties. The newest of these to be evaluated are the Shock Wave petunias-new for 2008. They will be more available this fall and next spring. They are the smallest growing of the Wave type petunias and have the smallest flowers. We have also found the new Plush series to be a good performer since its release last year. The Explorer series is also performing well.

Ornamental peppers are a unique, specialty type plant for home landscapes. Appealing characteristics include colorful berries and foliage. Ornamental peppers have traditionally been thought of to some degree as a holiday potted plant but are enjoying increased use among home gardeners as an alternative color addition to annual and herbaceous perennial beds.

Ornamental peppers produce colorful fruit (actual peppers) in a wide range of sizes, forms and colors. Purple, orange, yellow, red, brown, blue, and white are common. Multiple colors can appear on the same plant. Flowering on ornamental peppers is not obvious-the fruit are the desirable feature. Plants can reach heights of 8 inches to 3 feet depending on the variety. Green foliage is common but variegated foliage and plants with purplish-black leaves are also available.

You can plant ornamental peppers several times during the year. Many people plant in mid spring and enjoy the colorful foliage and fruit all the way through the fall until first killing frost. It is also popular, and widely accepted, to plant ornamental peppers in mid to late summer (July-September) for nice color addition to the fall landscape. Soil pH is not critical but slightly acid conditions (5.5-6.0) are most preferable. Irrigate during dry spells. Space plants according to the mature size for the variety chosen. A full sun location is needed. When planting in the spring, fertilize at planting and again at a half rate in early to mid summer. When planting in mid or late summer, a fertilization at planting will normally last through the fall.

Varieties or ornamental peppers include Chilly Chili (an All-America Selection in 2002), Medusa, and Red Missile. The Explosive series is very popular and includes Ember, Ignite and Blast. Ember has dark purple foliage on a 12-14 inch tall plant with purplish red fruit. Ignite is best suited for containers and baskets and only reaches 6-8 inches with fruit that changes from ivory white to greenish yellow to orangish red. Blast reaches 8-10 inches tall and has yellow green fruit that changes to scarlet red. Fruit of these three are edible and medium hot in flavor. Chilly Chili has non-pungent fruit and reaches about a foot tall with a spread of 8-10 inches. Fruit color of Chilly Chili ornamental peppers change from yellow to orange and matures at red. Black Pearl is a recent AAS selection and has very darkish purple foliage with red berries in the fall on a 30" tall upright plant.

All ornamental peppers are very heat tolerant and will make a great addition to the late summer and fall landscape in Louisiana.

For more information, contact Chris Robichaux, Ph.D, county agent, St. Martin/Iberia parishes at (337) 332-2181 or (337) 369-4440.