Twenty-five years of Wave Petunias … let’s get the party started!
2020 is a milestone year for the Wave® Petunia brand as it celebrates 25 years of inspiring gardeners with easy, spreading color.
Since the debut of Wave® Purple Classic in 1995 (an AAS Winner), Wave Fans have been choosing the world’s best-known spreading petunia.
The Wave petunia was born from an unlikely source: A breeder for Japanese beer company Kirin Ichiban noticed a wild petunia spreading its vibrant color in the field. That selection was fine-tuned and submitted to All-America Selections (AAS) trials. This new, vigorously spreading petunia from seed won high honors as a 1995 AAS Winner. Recognizing the petunia’s amazing potential, PanAmerican Seed partnered with Kirin to produce and distribute this newcomer, Wave Purple Classic, across North America.
AAS Winner Wave® Purple Classic
The Petunia that started it all!
Wave’s spectacular garden performance and incredible spread (up to 4 feet) surpassed other petunias in the 1990s with boldly colored blooms ran the length of every branch. Just four years later in 1999, the Wave brand became the No.1 selling petunia and pushed petunias to one of the “Top 10” bedding plants in North America. Over the years there’s been exciting new colors, patterns, and new flowers added to the line to fit any gardening style. For 25 years, Wave petunias have been spreading flower color in gardens making homeowners successful and impressing their guests and neighbors.
It’s revolutionary, to say the least
The five types of Wave petunias (always found in their signature pink pots) are:
Shock Wave
Colorful, petite flowers for small spaces. Use in hanging basked and mix in containers. 6-8” high by 24-30” across.
Easy Wave
Mounded flowers blook freely all season. Tolerates both hot and cool weather. Great color mixes available. 6-12” high by 30-39” across.
Tidal Wave
Mountains of color for big gardens and containers. Produces a flower-filled hedge to adorn fences or screen unsightly areas. 16-22” high by 30-60” across.
Wave
The original spreading petunia. Creates a ground-hugging carpet of color spreading up to 4 feet! 5-7” high by 36-48” across.
Double Wave
Frilly petals and flowers make outstanding baskets and mixed decorative planters. 6-8” high by 18-24” across.
Below are some highlights over the past 25 years…
1995
Wave Purple Classic wins the All-America Selection National Award for its excellent garden performance across the country. It’s the kick-starter for all spreading petunias to come!
1999
Tidal Wave® Petunia is unveiled, and gardeners tune in to HGTV to see the 1st Wave TV commercial. Also, the website www.Wave-Rave.com is launched.
2002
More AAS award winners announced: Tidal Wave Silver and Wave Lavender WOW the AAS judges nationwide with their awesome color. Welcome Easy Wave® Petunia – the most versatile and colorful Wave family member.
2003
Wave Blue becomes the fourth Wave petunia to win the AAS award for its velvety, dark blue blooms, and trailing habit.
2013
Cool Wave® Pansies join the family to bring easy, spreading color to early-spring gardens and fall/winter color for southern Wave Fans.
2015
The “Velours” hit stores and gardens everywhere feel luxurious! The stunning Tidal Wave Red Velour wins the prestigious All-America Selections Award.
Look to the Wave Rave website for an excellent Wave petunia planting guide. Wave Fans are a dedicated bunch and will be partying all year long in 2020. Watch for fun giveaways on social media @wavegardening – and maybe pop-up events near you. Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
From all of us at the Wave brand, thank you for choosing Wave. Let’s get the celebration started!
Written by Claire Josephson, Wave Brand Manager
