Petunias and Pansies Are Must-Have Annuals for Your Garden

Every spring, we head to the garden center to reinvigorate our outdoor spaces. The first weekend in May is primetime. The sun's out, the danger of frost has passed for most of the country, and our hanging baskets and containers are ready to go.

Year after year, we gravitate to two of our favorites: petunias and pansies. These bright annual plants are easy-going, and a fast way to bring color and life back to our exteriors.

Sure, you can start them from seed, but to fast-track the process, I always like to grab them as young plants in late spring and get a jump on the season. With the arrival of National Wave Day today, May 3, there’s no better time to plant something cheerful.

Three Decades and Over 60 Colors and Mixes

Wave Gardening is celebrating 30 years of bringing joy to gardens, and National Wave Day is all about color, connection, and kicking off the growing season.

“Since launching with the original Wave® Purple Classic Petunia in 1995, Wave® has grown to include five distinct petunia series – Wave®, Tidal Wave®, Easy Wave®, E3 Easy Wave®, and Shock Wave® – along with Cool Wave® and Top Wave™ Pansies, introduced for vibrant, cool-season color," shared Sarah Makiejus, Global Marketing Manager of PanAmerican Seed®, the breeder of Wave®. "Over the past three decades, we’ve continued to expand the collection with a wide range of garden-ready options in bold hues and unique mixes, bringing effortless beauty and spreading color to outdoor spaces everywhere.”

To make things even more fun, Wave Gardening teamed up with Anne Geddes to unveil a new piece of floral artwork that captures the spirit of the season. AND, there’s a giveaway that could award you or someone you know with a once-in-a-lifetime baby photoshoot by Anne herself.

Anne Geddes and artwork featuring variety of Wave petunias. — Anne Geddes revealed new artwork with 13 baby models and a variety of Wave petunias. Credit: Wave Gardening

Wave Petunias: Big Color, No Fuss

Petunias are one of those flowers that seem to work everywhere. Want a full basket of trailing blooms? Done. Need something to fill a spring garden bed? Petunias can handle that too.

What makes Wave Petunias plants stand out is how easy they are. They spread fast, bloom like crazy, and aside from dosing them a healthy amount of fertilizer to maximize blooms, they don’t need much attention to stay happy. Did you know that these petunia varieties can cover four feet of space and barely blink at heat or rain? They also thrive as hanging basket plants. There's a reason they're a go-to for so many gardeners.

Wave’s different series give you a wide range of colors depending on how you want to plant. I'm a ride-or-die Purple Tie-Dye girl, but because the colors are bold, there's no limit to the mix-and-match potential for your spring blooms.

Pink petunias sprawling as groundcover. — Create a sprawling groundcover with these popular annuals. Credit: Wave Gardening

Don’t Skip on Pansies

Pansies often get labeled as early spring or fall flowers, but the Cool Wave and Top Wave varieties stretch the season. These colorful blooms spread like their petunia cousins but hold up better in cooler climates, even in areas with partial shade. That means you get more time to enjoy them. If you're in an area still prone to colder nights, take notice.

We especially like these colorful flowers near walkways, in our rock garden, and in tabletop containers. They stay tidy, and the newer edible varieties mean you can even toss a few of the delicate flower petals on a salad or dessert.

Find Your Local Garden Center

Wave’s signature pink branding is easy to spot in stores, and with over 60 colors and mixes to choose from, it’s simple to find a few favorites. It's a reminder that garden design isn't just about what you grow—it's about what it means to you. Whether you’re filling a single pot or planting an entire bed, petunias and pansies are a cheerful way to mark the start of something new. Find a retailer near you.