Supertunia Mini Vistas have stood up to whatever Mother Nature threw at them in 2023

Norman Winter
·3 min read
Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo petunia has set the bar high for the series winning dozens of awards. Here it is with Superbena Cobalt verbena, Superbells Coral Sun and North Pole arborvitae.
Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo petunia has set the bar high for the series winning dozens of awards. Here it is with Superbena Cobalt verbena, Superbells Coral Sun and North Pole arborvitae.

If the Supertunia Vista were the diamonds of the petunia world for their toughness and perseverance then surely the Mini Vistas would be the rubies and sapphires as so demonstrated this year. Mother Nature gave gardeners all the challenges they could handle from the standpoint of heat and drought. The drought monitor map showed a large area under what appears to be an epic drought, and it is not just the southeast.

The Supertunias seemed up to the challenge from the get-go. Young’s Plant Farm gave an update on their trials throughout the summer on social media and at the end of July they took our breath away with photos of Supertunia Mini Vista hanging baskets. I kid you not, the photos made them appear almost as large as Volkswagen Beetles. I took photos in June at their Annual Garden Tour and they were huge then but the late July pictures almost defied logic.

Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in June showed enormous Supertunaia Mini Vista petunias in baskets like this Mini Vista Yellow which made its debut this year.
Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in June showed enormous Supertunaia Mini Vista petunias in baskets like this Mini Vista Yellow which made its debut this year.

But what they said about their Instagram post said it all: “The SUPERTUNIA Mini Vista is the perfect petunia for hot humid climates like ours in the Southeast. In fact, check out these pics from our trial garden. These pics were taken this week (end of July) and these Mini Vistas still look amazing."

This basket at Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour Shows off the new Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine petunia with an iridescent glow.
This basket at Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour Shows off the new Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine petunia with an iridescent glow.

At the Garden Guy’s house on Nov. 27, Supertunia Mini Vista Scarlet, the ruby of the group which is new this year, and Mini Vista Sweet Sangria new next year are both putting on a new flush of blooms. This is what son James and I have both seen in past years with the performance of Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo. Also new this year is Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow providing that color so rare in petunias and non-stop performance, too.

Supertunia Mini Vista Midnight is another new selection for this year. The color is so dark you might first think you can’t use it. But it has won Top Performer in the South in Mississippi and Georgia and far north to Minnesota. But, the-award that caught my eye was Director’s Select Best Performance at Penn State.

In this window box designed by Eden Estate Management, Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow is partnered with Supertunia Mini Vista Sweet Sangria and Mini Vista Indigo. Note also in the photo is Supertunia Hoopla Vivid Orchid petunia that is also debuting next year.
In this window box designed by Eden Estate Management, Supertunia Mini Vista Yellow is partnered with Supertunia Mini Vista Sweet Sangria and Mini Vista Indigo. Note also in the photo is Supertunia Hoopla Vivid Orchid petunia that is also debuting next year.

Son James used it in partnership with Luscious Marmalade lantana which was stunning, but the Proven Winners recipe called Victoria Lake, is a WOW! It features Midnight with Superbena Whiteout verbena for the ultimate in contrast, and then the addition of Superbells Twilight, a double calibrachoa, that gives a soft echo of the Midnight’s deep purple and the white of Superbena Whiteout.

Next year is also the debut of Supertunia Ultramarine, this is my choice as the sapphire of the series. This purple color that some compare to Supertunia Royal Velvet petunia seems to have an iridescent or glowing aspect to it. I partnered mine with the Solenia Apricot begonia and it was magical. I predict this variety will literally fly off the shelves so don’t hesitate in your decision making when you shop next spring.

In this container The Garden Guy has paired Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine with Solenia Apricot begonia and Graceful Grasses, Queen Tut papyrus.
In this container The Garden Guy has paired Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine with Solenia Apricot begonia and Graceful Grasses, Queen Tut papyrus.

There are 10 varieties in the Mini Vista series and they all will reach about 12-inches tall with a 24-inch spread. The Garden Guy has all of his in containers with great potting soil, while Young’s Plant Farm had baskets, containers and raised beds where they all performed like champs. The Garden Guy fed his plants a water-soluble fertilizer mix every 2 to 3 weeks.

As you make your plans or as you shop next spring don’t let the words Supertunia Mini make you think the least bit diminutive or anything less than the champions they are. Their trophy case is enormous, look at Young’s Plant Farm Instagram page and you will see what I mean.

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: supertunia mini vistas defied drought and humidity in Georgia gardens