It is difficult to talk excitedly about petunias without quickly shifting the conversation to the series of wave or spreading petunias. It all started with the introduction of purple wave about 10 years ago, that wonderful low growing spreader that needed at least a bushel basket sized space in the garden.

The story of the waves started with the search for a better beer. It seems that a large Japanese brewer sent their top hops breeder to South America looking for new genetics or breeding material in the quest for better hops and thus better beer.

While there he found an interesting native spreading petunia which he brought home with him. He then crossed it with the existing grandifloras and was very impressed with the results. When he took his find to his bosses he was reminded that they were a beer company, not a flower company.

He then showed it to the two largest seed companies in Japan. Both of these are well known names in the industry and do extensive business outside of Japan, including the United States. They too showed a decided lack of enthusiasm. There are other stories that show the difference in tastes between the Japanese and Americans when selecting plants.

Finally, the plant found its way to Chicago and the Ball Seed Company. Many millions of dollars of profit later, the saga of the wave petunias continues.

The wave petunia series has now expanded to include the colors purple, rose, pink, blue and misty lilac. All are massive spreaders and low growing. Most do not hug the ground to the extent that the original purple one does.

Interestingly, the color white is still missing. We visited the "behind the barn" trials in Chicago some five years ago when our daughter worked there and saw what I thought were some worthy white flowering plants. To date none of these have made it to the marketplace.

This past season Ball has introduced a double wave series including the colors purple, blue vein, pink, rose, white, lavender and misty lilac. These too look like they will be a hit. While the single waves will fill a large bushel basket I would expect the doubles to require only a small bushel basket.

Over the years competing companies have tried to join the bandwagon of spreading petunias. Most efforts have fallen short of the original.

One competitor introduced blanket petunias this year. They may find a place in the market. They are more diminutive and will fill no more than half the space of the waves. The also have a flower the size of the popular million bells which look like petunias, but really aren't. This year's introductions included purple and white.

Ten years ago in our greenhouse we would make five plantings of a dozen or more colors of the grandiflora petunias. Today we grow lesser amounts of fewer colors in market packs and make three plantings during the season. It seems that the waves are the winners.

You don't have to enjoy beer to enjoy the petunia revolution but you should be glad that somebody did a decade or so ago.