On Gardening: Tiaras for all occasions: ground cover, baskets and containers

Norman Winter, Tribune News Service on Nov 5, 2026

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The Supertunia Tiara duo debuted in 2025 and in this brief amount of time has become the darling of the landscape. The love and admiration from gardeners across the country including my area of West Georgia and East Alabama has been nothing short of WOW! As much as gardeners treasure their Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunias, Supertunia Pink Tiara and Blue Tiara are here to say, "Look at me!" Oh yes, and both are building a trophy case with awards.

At first, it would seem the Supertunia Tiara Petunias were designed with the artist gardener in mind. While that could be true, it is most likely that these petunias are so unique and beautiful that any combination or application you try simply looks ready for the canvas.

Both Supertunia Pink Tiara and Blue Tiara are mounding and can reach up to 12 inches in height with a spread of 2 feet. So, from floral ground covers to spillers out of baskets or tumblers over the rim of containers, they promise to excel. In containers, premium lightweight potting mixes with controlled released granular fertilizer and plenty of sun will insure you receive the coveted "green thumb" award.

But you are thinking about partners or combinations. So, let’s start simple. They both will excel as monoculture; in other words a basket full of Supertunia Pink Tiara or one full of Supertunia Blue Tiara will bring out the camera, and they look great together!

But if you are like The Garden Guy, you want a combination that will stop traffic. It is hard to beat Supertunia Blue Tiara growing in combination with high contrast colors like Supertunia Persimmon or Supertunia Honey petunias. If you are thinking "Good lawdy that’s gawdy," then tone it down with yellow or chartreuse; in which case Lemon Coral sedum offers both.

The Garden Guy has now come full circle. I think Supertunia Pink Tiara might just be the prettiest petunia in the market. I can think of a richer pink color with the accompanying white halo sealing the deal with the contrast.

A new recipe in 2027 called Sparkle Party sounds funny or catchy, but the look is one for your dreams. I wrote about it in the summer but will help remind you that the other partners are Superbena Violet Ice verbena and the yellow Supertunia Saffron Finch petunia.

Here are some ideas from the field: Susan Middleton Turner in Zone 9 Miller County, Georgia, planted a decorative garden cart or wagon with Supertunia Pink Tiara and Blue Tiara petunias and a layer of Supertunia Mini Vista Bright Pink petunias. It was a real eye-catching accent for the landscape.

Daughter Kim moved to a new home that came with a raised bed ready for planting. She chose Supertunia Pink Tiara petunia as a ground cover partner with ColorBlaze Lime Time and ColorBlaze Royale Pineapple Brandy coleuses. The bed also featured Rockin Playin’ The Blues salvia and the heirloom, Rose Campion.

The Garden Guy tried a Supertunia Blue Tiara petunia with next year’s new Superbells Double Mardi Gras and the Superbells Yellow calibrachoas, and the combination was magical. Keep this one in mind come spring planting season.

The Garden Guy has just wound up fall planting season in the Columbus, Georgia, area. We are in zone 8 and I have found it to be a great time to plant what I call refresher colors. I have planted Supertunia petunias, Superbena verbenas and Superbells calibrachoas. These usually come through the winter, whether I choose to move containers into the garage for a couple of nights or leave them outside. This usually gives me great color in what might be considered odd times of the year. If you can find the "Supers" for sale in zone 8 and warmer, give it a try. My main tup would be to go into cold nights with your plants hydrated.

It’s a great time to be a gardener and the Supertunia Tiara petunias make everything more beautiful.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)