May 2025

Callie, petunia’s upstart cousin, bursts with floral fireworks

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Most flowering annuals in gardens around the U.S. have stood the test of time, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For example, geraniums were planted in Europe in the 17th century and have been an American favorite for more than 200 years. Petunia, as we know it today, appeared in gardens in the 1800s.

Read MoreCallie, petunia’s upstart cousin, bursts with floral fireworks