THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Petunia
Lisa Karen Miller
If you examine the bloom of a petunia and that of tobacco, you will see a striking resemblance. They are in the same family – Solanaceae – along with potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, and deadly nightshade. Its name comes from the Brazilian petun, meaning tobacco. Native Americans called this now common annual “worthless tobacco.”
In the early 15th century, Spanish explorers found them growing near the coast of Argentina. They had small trailing white flowers of little interest, so they were not among the specimens sent back to the homeland. It wasn’t until the 17th century that explorers took them from the Americas back to Europe.
Incas believed that the petunia would only thrive in an environment rich in positive energy and free from darkness and gloom. They made magical beverages from the flower buds and used the blossoms’ scent to ward off evil spirits.
Petunias didn’t gain widespread popularity until American hybridizers got to work on them. They now come in a stunning array of colors, some with fringed margins or double petals. Some of the newer varieties are even touted as not needing dead heading – a blessed relief for those of us who get tired of pinching off spent blooms.
The sticky sap that exudes from the leaves repels insect pests, making it even more popular among gardeners who don’t wish to spend an inordinate amount of time tending plants, or applying Earth-surly pesticides.
Newlyweds were advised to plant it in the garden of their new home, as it would magically ground them in their new life together as a committed couple. One piece of folklore claims that its intoxicating scent is released at night by the spirits of star-crossed lovers. Petunias are also thought to harmonize the energy between mind and body.
In the language of flowers, they can say either resentment and anger (so the name of Harry Potter’s awful aunt, Petunia Dursley, seems very fitting) or “Your presence soothes me.” It was rumored that its reputation for fury came from Queen Victoria herself, who was often subject to fits of rage.
The petunia is widely available at nurseries and farmers’ markets each spring, in a dizzying array of colors. Some have a trailing habit that is just right for hanging baskets. For someone who wants color, scent, and blooms all summer, without spending hours gardening, it is the perfect choice.
The petunia – not worthless at all.
© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller
Folklore of Plants 
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