How to Grow Supertunia Picasso

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Supertunia Picasso

Petunia × hybrida 'Supertunia Picasso'

flower

Supertunia Picasso is a vibrant hybrid petunia cultivar featuring deep purple flowers with distinctive white or pink veining that creates an artistic, painted appearance. This prolific bloomer is a garden staple prized for continuous flowering throughout the growing season with minimal deadheading required. It grows as a trailing or mounding annual that works beautifully in containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds.

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Example Supertunia Picasso timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Supertunia Picasso
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
First Supertunia Picasso blooms
Around Jun 1

≈ 45 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Supertunia Picasso dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial afternoon shade in very hot climates

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Water: Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. In containers, water deeply when top inch of soil feels dry. Reduce watering slightly once established. Avoid overhead watering to prevent disease; water at soil level instead.

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Spacing: 12 inches

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Days to maturity: 45-60 days from transplant to first blooms

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Planting depth: Plant transplants at same depth as nursery pot; do not bury stem

Soil

Type: Well-draining potting soil or garden soil with organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged bark for container growing Perlite or coarse sand for improved drainage Slow-release fertilizer worked into planting soil

Growing Zones

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Grows as an annual in zones 2-10; perennial in zones 10-11

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

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Growth Stages

Transplant/Establishment

1-2 weeks

Young plants from nursery with developing root systems and initial leaf growth

Acclimate to outdoor conditions gradually over 7-10 days. Plant after last frost when soil is warm. Water gently to settle soil and reduce transplant shock. Pinch back tips if leggy to encourage bushier growth.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Rapid stem and leaf development; plant builds bushy framework with increasing foliage

Water consistently and fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer or weekly with diluted liquid feed. Continue pinching back stems if desired for fuller habit. Monitor for pests.

Flowering Initiation

1-2 weeks

First flower buds appear at stem tips; color begins showing on developing blooms

Transition to bloom-promoting fertilizer (lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus and potassium). Maintain consistent watering. Remove any early damaged or malformed buds to direct energy to quality flowers.

Peak Bloom

8-12 weeks or until frost

Prolific flowering with masses of purple flowers featuring white or pink veining; continuous blooms through season

Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with flowering formula. Deadheading is minimal with this variety but remove spent flowers if present for tidiness. Water during dry spells; withholding water can stress plants and reduce blooming.

Decline

4+ weeks

Flowering slows or stops as temperatures drop or season advances; plant growth slows

Reduced watering needed. Stop fertilizing as growth diminishes. Can be cut back in early fall if leggy, but new blooms may not have time to develop before frost in cooler zones. Plant is frost-sensitive and declines quickly after freezing temperatures.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Calibrachoa Bacopa Dichondra Scaevola Verbena Ivy Sanvitalia Torenia Alternanthera

Avoid planting near:

Plants requiring consistently dry soil Dense shrubs that shade petunias Plants susceptible to the same fungal diseases (avoid crowding)

Common Pests

Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; strong water spray can dislodge them. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
Increase humidity with regular misting. Use miticide or neem oil spray. Avoid excessive heat and dry conditions.
Yellow sticky traps to monitor and capture. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil on undersides of leaves.
Hand-pick if populations are low. Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for larger infestations.
Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Remove affected flowers and foliage. Apply fungicide if severe; choose products labeled for petunias.

Uses

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Edible Flowers

Culinary

Petunia flowers are technically edible and can be used as a garnish for salads and desserts, adding color and a slightly sweet, delicate flavor. However, the primary value of Supertunia Picasso is ornamental rather than culinary. [source]

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Container and Basket Gardening

Household

Supertunia Picasso is exceptional in hanging baskets, window boxes, and mixed containers where its trailing habit and prolific blooms create cascading displays of color. It's one of the most popular choices for container gardening. [source]

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Cut Flowers and Arrangements

Craft

The distinctive purple and white veined blooms make striking fresh-cut arrangements and floral designs. Stems last 3-5 days in a vase with fresh water. [source]

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Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

Petunias attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds that feed on nectar, making Supertunia Picasso a valuable plant for pollinator gardens and supporting beneficial insects. [source]

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Garden Borders and Bedding

Household

The mounding and trailing habit makes it perfect for edging flower beds, creating borders along pathways, or cascading over raised beds and walls with weeks of continuous color. [source]

Harvest Tips

This is an ornamental flower, not harvested in the traditional sense. Deadhead spent flowers by pinching them off to encourage continuous blooming, though Supertunia is particularly good at self-cleaning. Cut stems for fresh flower arrangements when several blooms are open and buds are showing color. Cuttings root easily in moist soil or water for propagation.

Fun Facts

🌱 Supertunia Picasso's distinctive white or pink veining is a natural pattern that develops as the flower matures, creating a unique 'painted' appearance that resembles brushstrokes—hence the 'Picasso' name.
🌱 Unlike many petunia varieties that require frequent deadheading, Supertunia Picasso is largely self-cleaning, meaning it continuously produces new flowers without needing you to remove spent blooms, making it one of the lowest-maintenance petunia varieties.
🌱 Petunias are members of the Solanaceae family (nightshade family), which also includes tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes; despite being related to these food crops, petunias are ornamental hybrids that were first developed in South America in the early 1800s.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Cultivar Deadhead Full Sun Hybrid pH Pinch Back Transplant

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