The annual flower known for large, showy blooms in many colors and frequent container use is the petunia.
Petunias belong to the genus Petunia in the nightshade family, Solanaceae, which also includes tomatoes, peppers, and tobacco. Garden petunias are valued for trumpet-shaped flowers that may be white, pink, purple, red, yellow, blue, or multicolored. Many modern cultivars are bred for long flowering seasons and compact or trailing growth.
Although petunias are botanically tender perennials in warm climates, gardeners commonly grow them as annuals because frost kills them. Their popularity in containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and borders comes from their adaptable growth and abundant flowers. Trailing types are especially useful where blooms can spill over the edge of a pot.
Petunias are sometimes confused with calibrachoas, which have smaller, petunia-like flowers and are often sold alongside them. Petunias generally perform best with strong sunlight, regular watering, and good drainage; removing faded flowers can encourage continued blooming.