Purple Reign: 2024 is the ideal time to test, trial Supertunia Vista Jazzberry

This time of the year is fun for a garden writer as we get the opportunity to look forward to 2024. Last week I wrote about Peach Fuzz, the Pantone Color of the Year for 2024. This week the focus is Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia, Proven Winners 2024 Annual of the Year.

Proven Winners is a recognizable brand in the green industry and, in most cases, it is what the name says it is ― a winner. Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia is a prime example. It made its debut in 2021, which is also when I started trialing it and the year the awards started piling up. To date Supertunia Vista Jazzberry has won 32 awards. Seven of those awards have been Perfect Score.

The where of these Perfect Scores speak volumes: University of Georgia and University of Minnesota. This range covers north to south. Then there is University of Tennessee and Oklahoma State in the middle. Then there are Gold Medals in Illinois and Director’s Select at Penn State. You are getting the idea.

The other awards were Top Performer Awards from Oregon State, Ohio State, Delaware and North Dakota and university locations in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. The Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia trophy case will most likely expand in 2024.

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Bright purple Supertunia Vista Jazzberry produces a showy carpet or cascade

Every year I hear gardeners ask the age-old question, "I love my Bubblegums, but what else can I try?"

In truth, the answer is any of the Supertunia Vista series, but if you have not tried Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia, make next year your test, your trial. See if you would give it a Top Performer like my old stomping ground, Mississippi State University.

Like the others, it will mound up 12 to 24-inches in height and spread outward or tumble 36-inches.  This means in a container or basket you can create an incredible show. In containers, we like to use controlled-release granules at planting and switch over to water-soluble mixes, feeding every two to three weeks.

Of course, the Supertunia Vistas are known for their landscape superiority too. The one thing that all great Supertunia Vista beds have in common is soil preparation. Beds that are organically rich and freely draining give you the best chances to have that floral show mimicking a carpet of color.

In Georgia, I have had good success planting both in October and in the spring. An application of a granular fertilizer at time of soil preparation will get you going, followed by a second application in mid-summer. A water-soluble mix also does really well. In the South most of us do find that there will be a time to trim back by one third. It is usually around the first of August for me and gets us ready for the fall show.

Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia is called bright purple on the tag and its true complementary color would be a yellow, like Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow petunia or Luscious Citron lantana. The ultimate in contrast however is pairing it with Superbena Whiteout verbena. So far, I have yet to find a partner that can’t work.

Like all of the other Supertunias, the Vista Jazzberry will bring in the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies and get their visits from the Ruby-throated hummingbird, which is certainly befitting the Top Performer at the Cincinnati Zoo too! Add Supertunia Vista Jazzberry to your list of must have plants for 2024.

Follow Norman Winter on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration. See more columns by Norman at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/home-garden/.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Norman Winter Garden Guy praises Supertunia Vista Jazzberry