Just called a local nursery.

Main difference: Surfinias are vegetatively propagated (I assume this means tissue culture? They said "cuttings"), and the Waves are grown from Seed.

Surfinia tends to have larger leaves and a thicker stem, Waves smaller leaves, thinner stems

Both are used similarly; Waves have been used extensively in the landscape in recent years where this grower had seen more 'container' use from the Surfinias.

Otherwise, she offered that both had the aggressive nature/habit.

Misc: Surfinia seems to have a wider selection, whereas Waves are more limited.

Ever since Jessie posted this question, I've been pondering it and wondering whether anyone would know the answer. But I never thought to simply call a nursery and ask. D'oh!

Thanks, mmqchdygg!

But wait, there's more! I found the website, inquired to the owner as to the reference of a certain quotation on the page, and got this in response:

Hi XXXX,

Thanks for your inquiry, good question.

Because of the breeding of Surfinia petunias, and all the research we do, we feel quite certain that our petunias do not get leggy, or stretch, simply because the distance between the nodes in the branching remain short, or certainly much shorter than competitors like Wave petunias.

Surfinia petunias are bred to stay compact in habit, and that is what they do. even our trailing petunias that can grow as long as eight feet across, retain the short node habit, so there is more branching and more even flowering throughout the plant.

Most competing petunias do have a tendency to stretch and get leggy, particularly towards the dog days of Summer, while Surfinia petunias retain their compactness.

Surfinia petunias were the very first vegetative petunias introduced to the market, many petunias sold today, including Wave petunias are grown from seed, while Surfinia are grown only from cuttings, never from seed. We like to think that the genetics of a vegetative petunia give it the vigor, uniform habit, and more flowering.

Wave petunias have been marketed in North America extremely well, therefore they command a great percentage of sales. While in Europe, Surfinia petunias command 85% of the market, and Wave petunias are almost non-existent. The job of making Surfinia more accepted in North America is very difficult due to the great market share of Wave petunias.

By the way, Wave petunias are exellent, we just feel that Surfinia petunias are definitely better in all around performance. As the weather gets warmer Wave petunias get leggy, and lose their flowering ability, particularly on the crown, so you get bald spots on top, while Surfinia petunias actually get better in the Summer, and early Fall.

Thanks again, Tina, hope this helps.

In your part of the world you can talk to someone like D.S. Cole Greenhouses and Pleasant View in Loudon, NH for additional information about Surfinia petunias.

Kindest regards,
Lou Aguirre
Marketing & License Manager
JPW - Suntory Collection
541.864.2333
Fax 541.864.2819
e-mail: laguirre@jacksonandperkins.com

I tell you what:

I'm very happy with the comments I received up there from the owner of the Surfinias, and am rethinking my Wave purchases for this year.

His remarks on growth habits, as well as his frankness, and not 'bashing' the competitor, but providing useful comparisons have sold me, and I'm ready to try the Surfinias.

I had some superfinias last year and they were spectacular. I didn't know what the difference was but I knew I loved them. Thanks for the interesting information! They are harder to find.

Thanks for this thread. I learn more useful things on GW. I usually don't grow any petunias because the deadheading drives me crazy but I will definitely try a Surfinia this year.

I am so excited...just purchased a bunch of Surfinias. We shall see if they hold up to everyone's expectations! Was disappointed, tho, as we had to drive abt. 20 mi. to purchase them, and then they only were in about 2 shades of purple. Has anyone else found all the colors that were on the web site?

Wave, Surfinia... whatever... they were OK, but nothin' to write home about. Sorry.

I am absolutely tickeld PINK to have found good old fashioned CASCADE petunias at a local farm stand. Nothing, in my experience, compares to Cascades. I am willing to fuss and deadhead and that likely isolates me as far as the basic customer goes.

Cascades require "participation", "supervision"... but they smell great, the flowers are huge, and they are absolutely gorgeous.

My inability to locate Browallia and the fall from favor of Cascades tells me I need to begin winter sowing. The "latest and the greatest" ain't necessarily so...

JMO

hello, I'm from Italy and I confirm what reported about the market shares: here the Waves are non existent, even the seeds... last year I wanted to try them and I had to order some seeds from the USA!! If you want a spreading petunia here, you must purchase Surfinia.
I tried both varieties and I experimented these differences:
- Surfinia is a little more resistent against aphids and other diseases, and a little more heat-tollerant. it also spreads more.
- Waves smell very good, Surfinia smell a lot less or don't smell at all.
- Colours: in the gardeners you can find almost only withe and purple surfinia, the other colours are very hard to find, at least here in my place.
- You cannot grow Surfinia by seeds: even if you collect seeds from a plant you don't have any result beause they are sterile, and this is very disappointing for me because i think you can get more and more gratification by grow your flowers by seeds instead of buy them ready for baskets... :-)

ciao, Paolo

I have visited a few nurseries around our area- about 50 miles in each direction. The surfinias & waves- while existing in SOME form at each nursery whether it be a large or small garden center- are showing up in little variety. Ie: you would have to visit several nurseries to find just the specific selection you want. A phone call or two might prove to save you the gas money in finding your favorite one.

On waves: The 'regular' waves are abundant. The "Easy" waves are harder to find, and the tidals are very nearly non-existent so far.

I search for Surfinia "Priscilla" every year. It lasts from spring until frost (April - end of October) and never fails to perform beautifully.

I also start many of the more unusual doubles from seed, but have found that they have a limited life - - unlike the Surfinias.

{{gwi:8473}}

Bump- Hey, look what I found! I guess I was in homework mode 3 years ago!

I just ordered 200 Surfinia's to start hanging baskets and window boxes with. I have a small (6'X8') greenhouse. I got them from a seller on ebay that sells liner/plug trays. I'll post again at the end of the season and let everyone know how they do.

I am a commercial grower, and I've grown both the vegetative and seed-produced petunias. Myself, I prefer the seed grown. Yes, Surfinias are beautiful, but so are the seed grown, if cared for properly. Yes, the waves have thinner stems, but I've found that is a plus, not a minus. I've had baskets of vegetative petunias where the stems snap and break easily when bumped or windblown, losing whole hunks from the canopy.

Perhaps some varieties of Surfinia are heat tolerant, but I was just reading some University of Florida trials and one note on the Surfinia Patio Chiffon rated it poorly for heat tolerance.

Waves are not the only 'spreading' petunia grown from seed. Rambin' is another brand, and there are others. The varietal range is great, and getting better every year. You can get seed grown spreading petunias in an amazing selection now. White, yellow, dark blue, purple, pink, those with white throats. Large flowered, small flowered, short like the shock waves.

Waves don't need deadheaded, but they will branch a lot more abundantly if you nip off the central leader and whack them back occasionally. Being seed-grown means I worry a lot less about diseases, because they don't have to be virus cultured. Seed grown petunias should also be cheaper to buy both for the grower and the end user.

No, a vegeative petunia is normally cutting produced, not tissue cultured, but could be. I wonder if buying Surfinias on Ebay you can be sure the royalties are paid, since they are patented.

"I wonder if buying Surfinias on Ebay you can be sure the royalties are paid, since they are patented. "

It's actually a major starter plant nursery that started selling some stuff on ebay. The nursery is on the list of Surfinia providers on Jackson and Perkins web site.

I've grown Waves and other similar petunias from seed for years, so I should be able to make a good comparison between them and the Surfinia's. I'll report back in the fall.

{{gwi:8474}}
Calliope, I found your post very informative and helpful. I grew Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunias for several years and they always succumbed to disease by mid July and died. I grew the Shock-Wave Petunias from seed and they did well up until frost, and no disease problems. I started these Shock-Wave Petunias a few weeks ago, growing them under lights.

Betty

I just want to add that about the Surfinia Blue Priscilla, they are wonderfully scented, especially for a double petunia. I know I've read the single purples and whites are strongly scented also, but I just love the priscilla's and hunt them down each spring. Strong grower too. I had three in a large pot, and when the breeze was gently I could smell them from within 10 feet (downwind/breeze).

I live in Zone 5b (south central Indiana) and have not been able to find Surfinias for several years now. They are so superior to the "wave" petunias that I have not been happy each year when I am forced to settle for the wave petunias. Is anyone else able to find Surfinias? If so, are they the original Jackson & Perkins...or are they Proven Winners?

I ordered my Surfinia from Park Seed. Got the wild plum and pastel pink and planted them this week. Will post pictures when they bloom. I usually buy the wave and regular petunias. Thought I would try something different this year. I am excited to see the difference in the wave and Surfinia.

To BigIrvsMrs 7: Thanks for your post about where you found the Surfinia plants. Please do post pictures when they bloom.

Glad I found this topic. I've never been able to grow Petunias.

Last year I grew the Cascade, both in a pot and in the ground, they both died come August.

This year I'm growing an Easy Wave (variegated purple and white) and another type of Petunia which wasn't listed on the tag.

If I posted a picture of it could you tell me what kind of Petunia it is?

And thanks to this board I've learned not to just pull the dead flower off, but to snip the whole bud! Maybe that's why mine died last year? Oh, and I've also learned they need fertilizing. I didn't do that either. lol

plum surfinia and pastel pink just beginning to bloom.

http://my.gardenguides.com/photos/BigIrvsMrs/photo/20735/4

Here is a link that might be useful: my surfinia