茄(qie)科(ke)碧(bi)冬(dong)茄(qie)屬(shu)植物。多(duo)年(nian)生(sheng)草本,常作一、二年(nian)生(sheng)栽培(pei); 株(zhu)高(gao)15~80cm,也有(you)(you)叢生(sheng)和(he)(he)匍(pu)匐類(lei)(lei)型(xing); 葉橢圓或(huo)卵(luan)圓形; 播種后(hou)當(dang)年(nian)可開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期長(chang)(chang)(chang)達(da)數月,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠喇(la)叭狀(zhuang)(zhuang); 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)形有(you)(you)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)、瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)緣皺褶或(huo)呈不(bu)(bu)(bu)規則鋸齒(chi)等(deng); 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色有(you)(you)紅、白(bai)(bai)(bai)、粉(fen)、紫(zi)及各種帶斑(ban)(ban)點、網紋(wen)、條紋(wen)等(deng); 蒴(shuo)果,種子極小,千粒重(zhong)約(yue)0.1g。園藝品種極多(duo),按植株(zhu)性狀(zhuang)(zhuang)分(fen)有(you)(you):高(gao)性種、矮性種、叢生(sheng)種、匍(pu)匐種、直立種;按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)型(xing)分(fen)有(you)(you):大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(10-15㎝以(yi)(yi)(yi)上(shang))、小花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)、波狀(zhuang)(zhuang)、鋸齒(chi)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)、單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色分(fen)有(you)(you):紫(zi)紅、鮮紅、桃紅、純(chun)白(bai)(bai)(bai)、肉色及多(duo)種帶條紋(wen)品種(紅底白(bai)(bai)(bai)條紋(wen)、淡藍底紅脈紋(wen)、桃紅底白(bai)(bai)(bai)斑(ban)(ban)條等(deng))。商業(ye)上(shang)常根據花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)的大(da)小以(yi)(yi)(yi)及重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)性將(jiang)矮牽牛分(fen)為大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、豐(feng)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、多(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)豐(feng)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)多(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)和(he)(he)其(qi)他類(lei)(lei)型(xing)(不(bu)(bu)(bu)屬(shu)于以(yi)(yi)(yi)上(shang)類(lei)(lei)型(xing)的均歸為其(qi)他類(lei)(lei)型(xing))。喜溫暖和(he)(he)陽光(guang)充(chong)(chong)足(zu)(zu)的環境。不(bu)(bu)(bu)耐霜凍,怕雨澇。它生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)適溫為13℃至18℃,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)溫度在(zai)(zai)4℃至10℃,如低于4℃,植株(zhu)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)停止。夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)能耐35℃以(yi)(yi)(yi)上(shang)的高(gao)溫。夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)旺期,需(xu)充(chong)(chong)足(zu)(zu)水分(fen),特別在(zai)(zai)夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)高(gao)溫季(ji)(ji)節,應在(zai)(zai)早、晚澆水,保持盆土濕潤(run)。但(dan)梅(mei)雨季(ji)(ji)節,雨水多(duo),對矮牽牛生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)十分(fen)不(bu)(bu)(bu)利,盆土過濕,莖葉容(rong)易徒(tu)長(chang)(chang)(chang),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期雨水多(duo),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)朵(duo)易褪色或(huo)腐(fu)爛。盆土若長(chang)(chang)(chang)期積水,則爛根死亡,所以(yi)(yi)(yi)盆栽矮牽牛宜(yi)用疏松肥沃和(he)(he)排水良好的砂壤土。屬(shu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)日照(zhao)植物,生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)期要求陽光(guang)充(chong)(chong)足(zu)(zu),在(zai)(zai)正常的光(guang)照(zhao)條件下,從播種至開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)約(yue)需(xu)100天左右(you)。冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)大(da)棚內栽培(pei)矮牽牛時(shi),在(zai)(zai)低溫短日照(zhao)條件下,莖葉生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)(chang)很茂(mao)盛,但(dan)著花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)很難,當(dang)春(chun)季(ji)(ji)進入長(chang)(chang)(chang)日照(zhao)下,很快(kuai)就從莖葉頂(ding)端分(fen)化花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾。
喜溫(wen)暖和陽(yang)光充(chong)足的環境。不(bu)耐霜凍,怕雨(yu)澇。它(ta)生(sheng)長適溫(wen)為13~18℃,冬季(ji)溫(wen)度(du)在4~10℃,如低于4℃,植株生(sheng)長停止。夏季(ji)能耐35℃以上的高溫(wen)。夏季(ji)生(sheng)長旺期,需充(chong)足水(shui)分(fen),特別(bie)在夏季(ji)高溫(wen)季(ji)節(jie),應在早、晚澆水(shui),保持盆土濕(shi)潤。但梅雨(yu)季(ji)節(jie),雨(yu)水(shui)多,對矮牽(qian)牛生(sheng)長十分(fen)不(bu)利(li),盆土過濕(shi),莖葉容(rong)易徒長,花期雨(yu)水(shui)多,花朵易褪色或腐爛。盆土若長期積水(shui),則爛根(gen)死亡,所以盆栽矮牽(qian)牛宜用疏松(song)肥沃和排水(shui)良好(hao)的砂壤土。
屬長日(ri)照植物(wu),生(sheng)長期要求陽光充(chong)足,在正常(chang)的光照條(tiao)件下(xia),從(cong)播種至開花(hua)(hua)約需(xu)100天左右。冬季大棚內栽培矮牽牛時,在低溫(wen)短(duan)日(ri)照條(tiao)件下(xia),莖葉生(sheng)長很(hen)茂盛,但著花(hua)(hua)很(hen)難(nan),當春季進入長日(ri)照下(xia),很(hen)快就從(cong)莖葉頂端分化花(hua)(hua)蕾(lei)。
本種是一個雜(za)交種,它是由 P. integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz et Thell.(=P. violacea Lindl.)和 P. axillaris (Lam.) Britton 二種雜(za)交培(pei)(pei)育的。在世(shi)界各(ge)國花園(yuan)中普(pu)遍(bian)栽培(pei)(pei)。我(wo)國南(nan)北城市公園(yuan)中普(pu)遍(bian)栽培(pei)(pei)觀賞。矮牽牛原產南(nan)美阿(a)根(gen)廷。現世(shi)界各(ge)地廣(guang)泛栽培(pei)(pei)。
花(hua)大(da)而多,開(kai)花(hua)繁盛(sheng),花(hua)期長,色彩豐富(fu),是優良(liang)的花(hua)壇(tan)和種植缽花(hua)卉,也可(ke)自然(ran)式叢植,還可(ke)作(zuo)為(wei)切花(hua)。氣候(hou)適宜或溫室栽培可(ke)四季開(kai)花(hua)。可(ke)以(yi)廣泛用于花(hua)壇(tan)布置(zhi),花(hua)槽配(pei)置(zhi),景(jing)點擺設,窗臺(tai)點綴(zhui),家庭(ting)裝飾。