Upright petunia seeds Frost Double Madness Lo Rider Hurrah and Hulahoop series in full bloom

Upright Petunia Seeds – Complete Guide to Frost, Double Madness, Lo Rider, Hurrah & Hulahoop

When most growers think of petunias, trailing varieties like Easy Wave and Shock Wave come to mind first. But upright petunias are the backbone of bedding plant programs, mixed container production, and landscape border installs — and they offer a level of color variety and plant habit diversity that trailing types simply can’t match.

This guide covers five of the most productive upright petunia series available in bulk pelleted seed: Frost, Double Madness™, Lo Rider™, Hurrah, and Hulahoop. Whether you’re building a 4-inch flat program, filling landscape borders, or producing premium mixed containers, there’s an upright petunia series here for every production goal.

Petunia Frost Series – Bicolor Edges, Bold Impact

The Frost series is defined by its striking white-edged bicolor blooms — each flower features a bold center color with a crisp white margin that creates a frosted, high-contrast look unlike any standard petunia. At 10–14 inches tall with a compact, well-branched habit, Frost is ideal for 4-inch and quart pot production, mixed containers, and front-of-border landscape plantings where a distinctive look drives retail sales.

The Frost Mix is a standout for retail displays — the combination of blue, cherry, fire, and velvet with white edges creates a visually striking flat that sells itself. Frost Fire and Frost Velvet are particularly popular for premium mixed container programs.

Petunia Double Madness™ Series – Lush Double Blooms in Bulk

Double petunias have always been a premium retail item — their full, ruffled blooms resemble miniature roses and command higher price points at garden centers and farmers markets. The Double Madness™ series brings this premium look to bulk seed production with consistent doubling rates, compact habit, and a color range that covers the most popular retail tones.

At 10–12 inches tall, Double Madness™ is well-suited for 4-inch and quart pot production, premium mixed containers, and upscale retail programs where the double bloom is the selling point.

Need smaller retail packs? Visit www.trailingpetunia.com for individual quantities.

Petunia Lo Rider™ Series – Spreading Habit for Borders and Baskets

The Lo Rider™ series bridges the gap between upright and trailing petunias — with a low, spreading habit that reaches 8–10 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide, Lo Rider™ is ideal for landscape borders, window boxes, and mixed containers where horizontal coverage is the goal without the full cascade of a trailing variety. Seven colors plus a formula mix give growers excellent flexibility for custom palette programs.

Petunia Hurrah Series – Maximum Color Range for Commercial Programs

The Hurrah series is built for commercial growers who need the widest possible color selection in a reliable, uniform upright petunia. With 10 colors including the eye-catching Lavender Tie Dye and Red Star bicolor, Hurrah gives growers the flexibility to build custom palettes, fill mixed flat programs, and offer retail customers a color range that no other single series can match.

At 12–16 inches tall with a vigorous, well-branched habit, Hurrah is well-suited for quart and gallon container production, landscape border installs, and high-volume flat programs.

Petunia Hulahoop Series – Bold Bicolor Rings for High-Impact Displays

The Hulahoop series features a distinctive contrasting white ring around the throat of each bloom — a bold bicolor pattern that creates a halo effect and makes individual flowers pop in mixed plantings and retail displays. At 10–14 inches tall with a compact, mounded habit, Hulahoop is ideal for 4-inch and quart pot production and mixed containers where the bicolor pattern adds visual interest without overwhelming the overall palette.

How to Grow Upright Petunias from Pelleted Seed

1. Start Indoors 10–12 Weeks Before Last Frost

All five series require a long lead time from seed to transplant-ready plug. Sow pelleted seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before your target outdoor planting date. For spring sales in most North American zones, this means sowing in January or February.

2. Germination: Light Required

Petunia seeds require light to germinate. Do not cover pelleted seeds with growing medium — press them gently onto the surface of a fine, pre-moistened germination mix. Maintain a soil temperature of 72–76°F (22–24°C). Expect germination in 5–10 days under optimal conditions. Pelleted seeds make precise placement easy and reduce the risk of overcrowding.

3. Seedling Care

Once seedlings emerge, move trays immediately to high-intensity grow lights (16 hours per day) or a very bright greenhouse bench. Maintain air temperatures of 65–70°F. Feed with a balanced fertilizer at 75–100 ppm nitrogen once true leaves appear. Keep the medium evenly moist but not waterlogged.

4. Transplanting and Pinching

Move seedlings to 288 or 128 cell packs once they have 2–3 true leaves. For fuller, more branched plants — especially important for Hurrah and Lo Rider™ in quart and gallon production — pinch once when plants reach 3–4 inches tall. Double Madness™ benefits from pinching to encourage more double blooms per plant.

5. Finishing and Outdoor Planting

Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before outdoor installation. Plant after all frost danger has passed in full sun to partial shade. Upright petunias perform best with at least 6 hours of direct sun. Space compact varieties (Frost, Double Madness™, Hulahoop) 8–10 inches apart; larger varieties (Hurrah, Lo Rider™) 10–14 inches apart. Feed with a balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting and supplement with liquid feed every 2 weeks through the season.

Which Upright Petunia Series Is Right for Your Program?

  • Frost — Best for retail programs where the distinctive white-edged bicolor look drives impulse purchases; compact habit suits 4-inch and quart production
  • Double Madness™ — Best for premium retail and farmers market programs where double blooms command higher price points
  • Lo Rider™ — Best for landscape borders and window boxes where low, spreading coverage is the goal; bridges upright and trailing habits
  • Hurrah — Best for high-volume commercial programs that need the widest color selection in a single reliable series
  • Hulahoop — Best for mixed container programs where the bold bicolor ring pattern adds visual interest and differentiates your product from standard solid-color petunias

For growers building a complete annual program, upright petunias pair beautifully with other bedding plant staples. See our guide on annual flowers vs perennials for help deciding which crops belong in your production mix. For another high-performing annual that complements petunias in mixed containers and landscape beds, check out our complete guide to growing verbena seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions: Upright Petunia Seeds

What is the difference between upright and trailing petunias?

Upright petunias grow in a compact, mounded or spreading habit and are best for landscape borders, bedding plant programs, and mixed containers where a structured, tidy look is desired. Trailing petunias like Easy Wave and Shock Wave have a cascading habit ideal for hanging baskets and large mixed containers where drape and spread are the priority. Many commercial programs run both types simultaneously for different production channels.

Do upright petunia seeds need light to germinate?

Yes. Like all petunias, upright varieties require light to germinate. Do not cover pelleted seeds with growing medium — press them gently onto the surface of a moist germination mix and place under grow lights or in bright indirect light. Maintaining a soil temperature of 72–76°F is critical for fast, uniform germination.

What are pelleted petunia seeds and why use them?

Pelleted seeds are tiny petunia seeds coated in a clay or inert material to make them larger, rounder, and easier to handle. Pelleting allows for precise single-seed placement in cell packs and plug trays, reduces waste, improves germination uniformity, and speeds up sowing time significantly in commercial production. All five series in this guide are available as pelleted seed.

How long do upright petunias take to bloom from seed?

Expect first blooms approximately 10–14 weeks from sowing under optimal conditions. Double Madness™ may take slightly longer due to the energy required to produce double blooms. Starting seeds 10–12 weeks before your last frost date will give you blooming or near-blooming transplants ready for spring sales.

What is the Hulahoop petunia pattern?

Hulahoop petunias feature a distinctive contrasting white ring around the throat of each bloom, creating a bold halo or “hulahoop” bicolor effect. This pattern makes individual flowers stand out in mixed plantings and retail displays, differentiating Hulahoop from standard solid-color upright petunias and driving impulse purchases at point of sale.

Can upright petunias grow in containers?

Yes — all five series perform well in containers. Compact varieties like Frost, Double Madness™, and Hulahoop are ideal for 4-inch and quart pots. Lo Rider™ works beautifully in window boxes and mixed planters where its spreading habit provides horizontal coverage. Hurrah is well-suited for quart and gallon containers in retail programs. Feed container petunias with liquid fertilizer every 1–2 weeks for best performance.

How many pelleted seeds are in a bulk pack?

Each bulk pack contains 1,000 pelleted seeds, sized for commercial flat production, landscape contractors, and large-scale growers. For smaller retail quantities, visit www.trailingpetunia.com.

Are upright petunia seeds F1 hybrids?

Yes. Frost, Double Madness™, Lo Rider™, Hurrah, and Hulahoop are all F1 hybrid petunia varieties. Saved seeds will not produce plants true to the parent variety. For consistent color, habit, and bloom type, purchase fresh bulk pelleted seed each season.

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