While Googling I stumbled across this site from University of Illinois Extension that has all these new petunias they are trialing!

Black Velvet http://urbanext.illinois.edu/t...

Phantom http://urbanext.illinois.edu/t...

Plush Lilac Pearl http://urbanext.illinois.edu/t...

master list http://urbanext.illinois.edu/t...

I really hope they release that Black Velvet, I think it is stunning!

Yes, the Black Velvet, Phantom and also Pinstripe will all be readily available Spring 2011. I found that Black Velvet will turn a bit red with sudden cold temp drops, as in spring rain. Also, some of the Black Velvet will open with a Yellow stripe. Very cool and different. I will grow them for sure. (I work at a greenhouse grower, which specializes in Annuals. OUr greenhouse will have the new petunias available in many different pot sizes, so I would imagine that most growers will be offering those petunias)

I would post a photo, but have not been able to load photos for a few months. Managed to load a couple the other day, but it's back to not loading an image.

Are you having a problem loading photos on cubits?

I don't know, haven't tried lately. Let's see, a pic from August.

Karen

No problem here, Joanne. Maybe you should contact Dave.

Karen

Here we go Pinstripe Petunia (bad year for petunias-cold & wet)

Re: loading photos. Yes I contact Dave several times. I think it has something to do with the way the routing is set up via servers. It seems to work 1 in 100 tries. More luck in early morning.

Now it won't work

Here's Black Velvet

Those are terrific Joanne! I never thought they'd come out with petunias in such classy colours, and your planting looks great too. Are the Pinstripe also yours? I love the annuals they are paired with.....it brings out all the right colours.

Do you know if any of the seed houses will be carrying them this coming year for the coming season?

Sometimes pictures don't load for me either with the new way its set up. When it was one picture per post I never had any problems.

I have tried searching for a seed source, but am told they are
only vegetative. I suspect they are a new hybrid of a deep burgundy parent
and so seeds would give a range of interesting colours.
I had thought they might have come from some of the deep blues,
but the red glints suggest the burgundy parent to me.

Yes, they are only vegetative from Ball Horticultural Company. There has been a lot of marketing for these new petunias so I would think that all growers (for annuals) will be growing them for Spring 2011

Steven, Yes both photo are from my garden

Beautiful pictures, Joanne.

Karen

The link from the U of I says they have a seed source but I guess that could be an error Either way if I remember to get some next year I will be saving seeds from them to see what comes up. My work always opens a greenhouse in the summer so we will hopefully get them in!

Petunia Phantom is one that I found later in the summer at one of our bigger nurseries. I'll have to post a picture later today.

Yes, please do!

Oooohhhhh.....love that Black Velvet. Wouldn't that be stunning in combination with so many other things?

Here's the picture. It's not the clearest but it's still beautiful!

love it.. the little purple stripe is awesome!!!

I think the Black Velvet would look stunning with true blue or hot pink! Or both!

Love the picture Donna, hopefully I'll find some of those here this season!

Thanks, Allison! When I purchased it, I didn't even know the name.

Here's a closeup shot, I think it really shows the vibrant colors better.