茄科碧(bi)冬(dong)茄屬(shu)(shu)植物。多(duo)(duo)(duo)年(nian)生(sheng)草本(ben),常(chang)作一(yi)、二年(nian)生(sheng)栽培; 株(zhu)高(gao)(gao)15~80cm,也有叢(cong)生(sheng)和匍匐(fu)類(lei)(lei)型(xing)(xing); 葉(xie)橢圓(yuan)或(huo)卵圓(yuan)形; 播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)后當年(nian)可(ke)開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期(qi)(qi)長達數月,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠喇叭狀(zhuang); 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)形有單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、重(zhong)(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)緣皺褶或(huo)呈不(bu)規則鋸(ju)(ju)齒等; 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)有紅(hong)(hong)、白、粉、紫及各種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)帶斑點、網紋(wen)(wen)、條(tiao)紋(wen)(wen)等; 蒴果,種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子極小,千(qian)粒(li)重(zhong)(zhong)約(yue)0.1g。園藝品種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)極多(duo)(duo)(duo),按植株(zhu)性(xing)狀(zhuang)分有:高(gao)(gao)性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、矮(ai)(ai)性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、叢(cong)生(sheng)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、匍匐(fu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、直立種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)型(xing)(xing)分有:大(da)(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(10-15㎝以(yi)(yi)上)、小花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)、波狀(zhuang)、鋸(ju)(ju)齒狀(zhuang)、重(zhong)(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)分有:紫紅(hong)(hong)、鮮(xian)紅(hong)(hong)、桃紅(hong)(hong)、純白、肉色(se)及多(duo)(duo)(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)帶條(tiao)紋(wen)(wen)品種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(紅(hong)(hong)底白條(tiao)紋(wen)(wen)、淡(dan)藍(lan)底紅(hong)(hong)脈紋(wen)(wen)、桃紅(hong)(hong)底白斑條(tiao)等)。商業上常(chang)根據花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)大(da)(da)小以(yi)(yi)及重(zhong)(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)性(xing)將矮(ai)(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)分為大(da)(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、多(duo)(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、大(da)(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)重(zhong)(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、重(zhong)(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)、重(zhong)(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)多(duo)(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)和其(qi)他(ta)類(lei)(lei)型(xing)(xing)(不(bu)屬(shu)(shu)于(yu)(yu)以(yi)(yi)上類(lei)(lei)型(xing)(xing)的(de)均(jun)歸為其(qi)他(ta)類(lei)(lei)型(xing)(xing))。喜溫暖和陽(yang)光充(chong)(chong)足的(de)環境。不(bu)耐霜凍,怕雨(yu)澇。它生(sheng)長適溫為13℃至18℃,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)溫度在(zai)(zai)4℃至10℃,如低于(yu)(yu)4℃,植株(zhu)生(sheng)長停止。夏季(ji)(ji)能耐35℃以(yi)(yi)上的(de)高(gao)(gao)溫。夏季(ji)(ji)生(sheng)長旺期(qi)(qi),需(xu)充(chong)(chong)足水(shui)分,特別在(zai)(zai)夏季(ji)(ji)高(gao)(gao)溫季(ji)(ji)節,應在(zai)(zai)早、晚澆水(shui),保持(chi)盆(pen)土濕潤。但(dan)梅雨(yu)季(ji)(ji)節,雨(yu)水(shui)多(duo)(duo)(duo),對矮(ai)(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)生(sheng)長十分不(bu)利,盆(pen)土過濕,莖葉(xie)容易徒長,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期(qi)(qi)雨(yu)水(shui)多(duo)(duo)(duo),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)朵易褪(tun)色(se)或(huo)腐爛。盆(pen)土若(ruo)長期(qi)(qi)積水(shui),則爛根死亡,所以(yi)(yi)盆(pen)栽矮(ai)(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)宜用疏松肥(fei)沃和排水(shui)良(liang)好的(de)砂壤土。屬(shu)(shu)長日照植物,生(sheng)長期(qi)(qi)要(yao)求陽(yang)光充(chong)(chong)足,在(zai)(zai)正常(chang)的(de)光照條(tiao)件(jian)下(xia),從播種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)至開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)約(yue)需(xu)100天左(zuo)右。冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)大(da)(da)棚內栽培矮(ai)(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)時,在(zai)(zai)低溫短日照條(tiao)件(jian)下(xia),莖葉(xie)生(sheng)長很茂盛,但(dan)著花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)很難,當春季(ji)(ji)進(jin)入(ru)長日照下(xia),很快就從莖葉(xie)頂端分化花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾。
喜(xi)溫暖和(he)陽光充足的(de)環(huan)境。不耐霜凍,怕雨(yu)(yu)澇。它生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)適溫為13~18℃,冬季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)溫度(du)在(zai)4~10℃,如低于4℃,植(zhi)株生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)停止。夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)能耐35℃以(yi)上(shang)的(de)高溫。夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)旺期,需充足水(shui)(shui)分,特別在(zai)夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)高溫季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)節(jie)(jie),應在(zai)早、晚澆水(shui)(shui),保持盆土(tu)濕(shi)潤(run)。但(dan)梅雨(yu)(yu)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)節(jie)(jie),雨(yu)(yu)水(shui)(shui)多,對(dui)矮牽牛(niu)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)十分不利,盆土(tu)過濕(shi),莖(jing)葉容易徒長(chang)(chang)(chang),花(hua)期雨(yu)(yu)水(shui)(shui)多,花(hua)朵易褪色或腐(fu)爛(lan)。盆土(tu)若長(chang)(chang)(chang)期積水(shui)(shui),則爛(lan)根死亡,所以(yi)盆栽矮牽牛(niu)宜用(yong)疏松肥沃和(he)排(pai)水(shui)(shui)良好的(de)砂壤土(tu)。
屬長日照植(zhi)物,生(sheng)長期(qi)要求(qiu)陽光充足,在正常的光照條(tiao)件(jian)下(xia),從播種至開花約需100天左右。冬季大棚內栽培矮牽(qian)牛時,在低溫短日照條(tiao)件(jian)下(xia),莖葉生(sheng)長很茂(mao)盛,但著花很難,當(dang)春季進入長日照下(xia),很快就從莖葉頂(ding)端(duan)分化花蕾。
本種(zhong)是一(yi)個雜交種(zhong),它是由(you) P. integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz et Thell.(=P. violacea Lindl.)和 P. axillaris (Lam.) Britton 二種(zhong)雜交培育(yu)的。在(zai)世界各(ge)國花園(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)普遍栽培。我國南(nan)北城(cheng)市公園(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)普遍栽培觀(guan)賞(shang)。矮牽牛原產南(nan)美阿根廷(ting)。現世界各(ge)地廣(guang)泛栽培。
花(hua)大(da)而多,開(kai)花(hua)繁(fan)盛,花(hua)期長,色彩豐富,是優(you)良的花(hua)壇(tan)和種植缽花(hua)卉,也(ye)可(ke)自然式叢植,還可(ke)作為(wei)切花(hua)。氣候適宜(yi)或溫(wen)室栽培可(ke)四季開(kai)花(hua)。可(ke)以(yi)廣泛用于(yu)花(hua)壇(tan)布(bu)置,花(hua)槽配(pei)置,景點擺設(she),窗(chuang)臺點綴,家庭裝飾。