On Gardening: Bubblegum, Paradise, Fuchsia offer picture-perfect Vistas

Let’s get down to some facts. The Vistas are huge, reaching 12 inches tall and trailing 36 inches.

There are six varieties in the group, the newest being Supertunia Vista Jazzberry.

James, my color design guru son, has created container masterpieces for high-traffic commercial shopping centers and upscale communities.

I can tell you, Supertunia Vista Fuchsia is no second fiddle to the pink Bubblegum.

In one, James used partners like Indian Summer rudbeckia, Diamond Snow euphorbia and Luscious Royale Cosmo lantana for a most complete garden look.

Whatever your other favorite flowers are, they are candidates for Supertunia Vista partnerships.

One of his most talked about designs was created in a horse trough near a children’s play area.

The trough has Supertunia Vista Fuchsia intertwined with Supertunia Lovie Dovie, Luscious Royale Cosmo lantana, Truffula Pink gomphrena, Little Quick Fire hydrangea and then a touch of the tropics with large Portora elephant ears.

This brings up the possibilities of Supertunia Vista petunias for planting in October.

I did that not only in the container just discussed, but in a large sweeping bed where I planted Supertunia Vista Bubblegum, Supertunia Vista Paradise and Supertunia Vista Silverberry around Pugster buddleia, Limelight Prime hydrangeas and large Portora elephant ears.

The winter took their toll on the tropicals, and of course hydrangeas and buddleia are deciduous.

The Supertunias would grow and bloom when warm, then kind of hunker down during freezing periods.

They bloomed from October until July 1, which was about nine months.

I then pulled back to bring in more plants to try.

The six Supertunia Vista petunias are big, bold and wonderful.

If you don’t want the big, then consider the Supertunia Mini Vista group, which has nine great selections with four new colors this year: Scarlet, Yellow, Midnight and Sweet Sangria.