茄科碧冬(dong)茄屬植物。多(duo)年(nian)生(sheng)草本,常作一、二年(nian)生(sheng)栽(zai)培; 株(zhu)(zhu)高(gao)15~80cm,也有(you)(you)叢生(sheng)和(he)匍(pu)匐類型(xing); 葉橢圓(yuan)或(huo)卵圓(yuan)形; 播種(zhong)(zhong)后當年(nian)可開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期(qi)(qi)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)達數月,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠喇叭狀(zhuang); 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)形有(you)(you)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)、重瓣(ban)(ban)、瓣(ban)(ban)緣皺褶或(huo)呈不規則(ze)鋸齒等; 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)(se)有(you)(you)紅(hong)(hong)、白(bai)、粉(fen)、紫及各種(zhong)(zhong)帶斑點、網紋(wen)(wen)、條(tiao)紋(wen)(wen)等; 蒴果,種(zhong)(zhong)子極小,千(qian)粒重約0.1g。園藝品種(zhong)(zhong)極多(duo),按(an)(an)植株(zhu)(zhu)性(xing)狀(zhuang)分(fen)(fen)有(you)(you):高(gao)性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)、矮(ai)性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)、叢生(sheng)種(zhong)(zhong)、匍(pu)匐種(zhong)(zhong)、直立種(zhong)(zhong);按(an)(an)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)型(xing)分(fen)(fen)有(you)(you):大花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(10-15㎝以上(shang))、小花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)、波(bo)狀(zhuang)、鋸齒狀(zhuang)、重瓣(ban)(ban)、單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban);按(an)(an)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)(se)分(fen)(fen)有(you)(you):紫紅(hong)(hong)、鮮紅(hong)(hong)、桃紅(hong)(hong)、純白(bai)、肉色(se)(se)及多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)帶條(tiao)紋(wen)(wen)品種(zhong)(zhong)(紅(hong)(hong)底(di)(di)白(bai)條(tiao)紋(wen)(wen)、淡(dan)藍(lan)底(di)(di)紅(hong)(hong)脈紋(wen)(wen)、桃紅(hong)(hong)底(di)(di)白(bai)斑條(tiao)等)。商(shang)業上(shang)常根據花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)大小以及重瓣(ban)(ban)性(xing)將矮(ai)牽(qian)(qian)牛(niu)分(fen)(fen)為(wei)大花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)類、豐(feng)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)類、多(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)類、大花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)重瓣(ban)(ban)類、重瓣(ban)(ban)豐(feng)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類、重瓣(ban)(ban)多(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類和(he)其(qi)他類型(xing)(不屬于以上(shang)類型(xing)的(de)(de)均歸為(wei)其(qi)他類型(xing))。喜溫(wen)(wen)(wen)暖(nuan)和(he)陽(yang)光(guang)充(chong)足的(de)(de)環境(jing)。不耐(nai)霜凍,怕(pa)雨澇。它生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)適溫(wen)(wen)(wen)為(wei)13℃至(zhi)(zhi)18℃,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)度在(zai)4℃至(zhi)(zhi)10℃,如低于4℃,植株(zhu)(zhu)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)停止(zhi)。夏季(ji)(ji)能耐(nai)35℃以上(shang)的(de)(de)高(gao)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)。夏季(ji)(ji)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)旺期(qi)(qi),需充(chong)足水分(fen)(fen),特別在(zai)夏季(ji)(ji)高(gao)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)季(ji)(ji)節(jie),應(ying)在(zai)早、晚澆水,保持盆(pen)(pen)土濕(shi)(shi)潤。但梅雨季(ji)(ji)節(jie),雨水多(duo),對矮(ai)牽(qian)(qian)牛(niu)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)十分(fen)(fen)不利,盆(pen)(pen)土過(guo)濕(shi)(shi),莖葉容(rong)易(yi)徒(tu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期(qi)(qi)雨水多(duo),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)朵易(yi)褪(tun)色(se)(se)或(huo)腐爛(lan)。盆(pen)(pen)土若(ruo)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)期(qi)(qi)積水,則(ze)爛(lan)根死(si)亡,所以盆(pen)(pen)栽(zai)矮(ai)牽(qian)(qian)牛(niu)宜用疏松(song)肥(fei)沃和(he)排水良好的(de)(de)砂壤土。屬長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)日(ri)照(zhao)植物,生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)期(qi)(qi)要(yao)求陽(yang)光(guang)充(chong)足,在(zai)正常的(de)(de)光(guang)照(zhao)條(tiao)件下,從播種(zhong)(zhong)至(zhi)(zhi)開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)約需100天左右。冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)大棚內栽(zai)培矮(ai)牽(qian)(qian)牛(niu)時,在(zai)低溫(wen)(wen)(wen)短日(ri)照(zhao)條(tiao)件下,莖葉生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)很(hen)茂(mao)盛,但著花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)很(hen)難,當春季(ji)(ji)進入長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)日(ri)照(zhao)下,很(hen)快就從莖葉頂端分(fen)(fen)化花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾(lei)。
喜(xi)溫(wen)(wen)暖和陽光(guang)充足(zu)的環境。不(bu)耐霜(shuang)凍(dong),怕雨澇。它生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)適(shi)溫(wen)(wen)為(wei)13~18℃,冬季(ji)(ji)(ji)溫(wen)(wen)度在(zai)4~10℃,如低于4℃,植株生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)停止(zhi)。夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)能耐35℃以(yi)上的高(gao)溫(wen)(wen)。夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)旺期,需充足(zu)水(shui)分,特別在(zai)夏季(ji)(ji)(ji)高(gao)溫(wen)(wen)季(ji)(ji)(ji)節,應(ying)在(zai)早、晚澆水(shui),保持盆(pen)土濕潤。但梅雨季(ji)(ji)(ji)節,雨水(shui)多(duo),對矮牽(qian)牛(niu)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)十分不(bu)利,盆(pen)土過濕,莖葉容易徒長(chang),花期雨水(shui)多(duo),花朵(duo)易褪色或腐(fu)爛(lan)。盆(pen)土若長(chang)期積水(shui),則(ze)爛(lan)根死亡,所以(yi)盆(pen)栽矮牽(qian)牛(niu)宜用疏松(song)肥沃和排水(shui)良好的砂壤土。
屬(shu)長(chang)日(ri)照(zhao)植物,生(sheng)長(chang)期要求陽光充足(zu),在(zai)(zai)正常的光照(zhao)條件(jian)(jian)下(xia),從播種至(zhi)開花約需100天(tian)左右。冬(dong)季大(da)棚(peng)內栽培矮牽牛(niu)時(shi),在(zai)(zai)低溫短日(ri)照(zhao)條件(jian)(jian)下(xia),莖葉生(sheng)長(chang)很(hen)茂盛,但(dan)著花很(hen)難,當春季進入長(chang)日(ri)照(zhao)下(xia),很(hen)快就(jiu)從莖葉頂端分化花蕾(lei)。
本(ben)種是(shi)一個雜交(jiao)種,它(ta)是(shi)由 P. integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz et Thell.(=P. violacea Lindl.)和 P. axillaris (Lam.) Britton 二種雜交(jiao)培(pei)育的(de)。在世(shi)界各國(guo)(guo)花園(yuan)中(zhong)普(pu)遍栽培(pei)。我國(guo)(guo)南北城市公園(yuan)中(zhong)普(pu)遍栽培(pei)觀賞。矮牽(qian)牛原產南美阿根廷。現世(shi)界各地廣(guang)泛(fan)栽培(pei)。
花(hua)(hua)(hua)大而多,開花(hua)(hua)(hua)繁盛,花(hua)(hua)(hua)期長,色彩(cai)豐(feng)富,是優(you)良的花(hua)(hua)(hua)壇和種植缽花(hua)(hua)(hua)卉,也(ye)可(ke)自然式叢植,還可(ke)作為切花(hua)(hua)(hua)。氣候(hou)適宜(yi)或溫室栽培可(ke)四(si)季開花(hua)(hua)(hua)。可(ke)以廣(guang)泛用于花(hua)(hua)(hua)壇布(bu)置,花(hua)(hua)(hua)槽配(pei)置,景點擺設,窗(chuang)臺(tai)點綴,家庭裝飾(shi)。