How to Grow Petunia 'Double Burgundy'
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Petunia 'Double Burgundy'
Petunia × hybrida 'Double Burgundy'
flowerA striking ornamental petunia cultivar featuring full, ruffled double flowers in deep burgundy to dark purple tones. These compact plants produce abundant blooms from early summer through frost, making them excellent for borders, containers, and hanging baskets. The double flower form provides a lush, romantic appearance with extended bloom longevity.
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Example Petunia 'Double Burgundy' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Petunia 'Double Burgundy'
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 'Double Burgundy' blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Petunia 'Double Burgundy' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-11 as an annual; grown as a tender perennial in zones 9-11
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Get my Petunia 'Double Burgundy' timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
10-14 daysTiny seedlings emerge with small, delicate cotyledons. True leaves develop shortly after, remaining thin and tender.
Maintain consistent moisture and bright light (grow lights if indoors). Keep temperature around 70-75°F. Avoid oversaturation to prevent damping-off disease.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlants develop robust foliage with increasingly visible branching structure. Stems thicken and leaf density increases throughout the plant.
Pinch back growing tips when 2-3 inches tall to encourage bushiness. Provide 14-16 hours of light daily. Fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Harden off transplants gradually before moving outdoors.
Budding
2-3 weeksFlower buds appear at branch tips, initially small and green. Buds gradually swell and show color as they develop.
Continue pinching if desired for fuller shape, though this delays flowering. Maintain consistent watering and fertilize weekly with slightly phosphorus-rich formula to support flower development.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (until frost)Abundant double burgundy flowers open, displaying fully ruffled, multi-petaled blooms. Flowers progress from tight buds through peak bloom to natural senescence.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Water at soil level to protect double flowers from water spots and rot. Provide consistent moisture and weekly fertilization. Monitor for pests and disease.
Late Season/Decline
Variable until frostFlowering slows as temperatures cool and daylight decreases. Plants may become leggy if not maintained. Seed pods form if flowers aren't deadheaded.
Continue deadheading to prolong blooms into fall. Cut back overgrown plants by one-third in mid-summer for rejuvenation. Reduce watering slightly if plants show fatigue. In zones 9+, may continue blooming into winter.
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 apply neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs.
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Remove heavily infested leaves. Improve air circulation.
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Increase humidity and water spray foliage (avoiding double flowers if possible). Use miticide or neem oil if severe.
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and
Hand-pick, use beer traps, apply diatomaceous earth barrier, or use iron phosphate-based slug baits.
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Improve air circulation, reduce overhead watering, remove infected plant parts. Apply fungicide if necessary. Avoid wetting double flowers.
Uses
Edible flower garnish
CulinaryPetunia flowers are edible and can be used as decorative garnishes on salads, desserts, and cocktails. They add visual interest and a slightly sweet, delicate flavor. [source]
Cut flower arrangements
HouseholdThe dramatic double burgundy blooms make striking additions to floral arrangements and bouquets, though they have shorter vase life than single varieties. [source]
Dried flower crafts
CraftDouble petunias can be pressed or dried for use in flower pressing projects, decorative paper crafts, and botanical art. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifePetunia flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to the garden, making them valuable for pollinator-friendly landscapes. [source]
Container and landscape ornament
HouseholdDouble Burgundy petunias are prized for their continuous color in containers, hanging baskets, borders, and mass plantings throughout the growing season. [source]
Harvest Tips
Petunias are ornamental flowers rather than harvested crops. Deadhead spent blooms regularly by pinching off at the base of the flower cluster to encourage continuous flowering and maintain plant shape. For cut flowers, harvest in early morning when stems are fully hydrated, cutting just above a leaf node. Double Burgundy petunias have shorter vase life (3-5 days) than single varieties but add unique texture to arrangements.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Petunias are native to South America and were introduced to Europe in the 1800s, where they were extensively hybridized to create the hundreds of cultivars available today, including the full double varieties.
- 🌱 The double flower form is a sterile mutation that prevents seed development, which is why the plant devotes more energy to continuous flower production rather than seed set—making deadheading even more rewarding.
- 🌱 The burgundy color in petunias comes from anthocyanin pigments, the same compounds responsible for the deep colors in red wine and blueberries, which also provide antioxidant benefits.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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