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Family: Solanaceae (so-lan-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Petunia (peh-TEWN-ya) (Info) Cultivar: Laura Bush
Hardiness: USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Violet/Lavender
Bloom Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall Mid Fall Blooms repeatedly
Foliage: Herbaceous Smooth-Textured
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Suitable for growing in containers
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From herbaceous stem cuttings From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Planted in less than ideal conditions, sprinkled a few of the microscopic seeds in several bare spots about a month ago. They are up and about, and first bloom is crazy darkish purple with some reds. They are in some small drain spots and their still fighting away fine. They should be completely grown by mid summer at the rate their growing. I can see they are taller about every other day. Plants are acting quite hardy. Please note I had no luck with the seed spread last winter at all, it could have been the heavy rains or the unusually cold conditions that knocked them out. Color is amazing and the leaf out is more pleasant than most wildflowers, I wish I had more seed when I did my second run.
On May 1, 2009, zville123 from Zanesville, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:
I wouldn't be without it! And I don't have to because if I let it go to seed at the end of the season, it comes back on it's own. Holds up well and smells wonderful in the evening. Laura Bush Pink is just as nice with a lighter pink color. You can buy seed for both from wildseedfarms.com.
This one truly does stand up to the heat and intense southern sun, unlike other petunias. Does like to be pruned back occasionally to prevent lankyness and being whipped around and sometimes broken in storms.
Perennial in my garden and blooms all summer long, even in July.
For the past 3 years, 'Laura Bush' has been one of the stars of my insufferably hot and humid Southeast Zone 8 gardens. Easy to grow by winter sown seeds with the only maintenance being a monthly trimming back, 'Laura Bush' is a cinch. NO DEADHEADING! My sandy soil seems to be just what she likes, even when cooked by the reflected heat of asphalt and concrete. Excellent doer.
I made cuttings over the winter and a few survived. They were leggy and pale but once the warm weather came they bloomed like crazy and filled out the container.
Laura Bush petunias are excellent fillers in my daylily beds here in East Texas. When they get leggy, I just cut them back and it's not long till they are in full bloom.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Oak View, California Jacksonville, Florida Braselton, Georgia Lansing, Kansas Slidell, Louisiana Morrice, Michigan Crown Point, New York Madison, Ohio North Zanesville, Ohio Columbia, South Carolina Canyon Lake, Texas Dalworthington Gardens, Texas Elgin, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Hutto, Texas Richmond, Texas Roman Forest, Texas San Antonio, Texas Spring, Texas Newell, West Virginia
11 members have or want this plant for trade.
