Want to gaze at distant galaxies but don’t have a strong enough telescope? Then don’t worry, because we’ve got the perfect solution. All you need to do is to buy yourself some Night Sky Petunias, because as you can see, their petals look like they’re hiding secret little universes inside of them.
Scientifically known as Petunia cultivars, Night Sky Petunias are a deep purple flower that’s characterized by the unique patterns on their petals. Much like their name suggests, these mesmerizing plants bloom to reveal a stunning plethora of white stars resembling distant clusters of galaxies.
Their otherworldly patterns are the result of a variance between night and day temperatures, so if you’re growing your own then you should keep them warm in the day (around 100° F) and cool at night (about 50°F) in order to yield the most spectacular results.
How to Grow Night Sky Petunias
As annuals, petunias will only grow well for one growing season. However, once you get these beauties blooming in the early spring, they will continue growing well and flowering right up until the first fall frost.
Start flowering a bit later than other petunias, usually in the early summer, but will continue right into fall.
For best results, plant your them in a spot that receives full, direct sunlight. In fact, these sun-worshipping plants need at least six hours of light each day.
Night Sky Petunias are drought-tolerant once they are established. However, well-draining soil is essential. These flowers don’t like being waterlogged.
Night Sky petunias, like all other petunias, take a ton of energy to bloom. Therefore, you will need to plant them in rich soil with lots of organic matter.