茄科碧(bi)冬(dong)茄屬(shu)植(zhi)物。多(duo)(duo)年生草(cao)本,常(chang)(chang)作一、二年生栽(zai)培; 株(zhu)高(gao)15~80cm,也有(you)叢(cong)生和匍匐類(lei)(lei)型; 葉橢圓或卵圓形(xing); 播種(zhong)后(hou)當(dang)年可開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期長(chang)(chang)達數(shu)月,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠喇叭狀; 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)形(xing)有(you)單瓣(ban)(ban)、重瓣(ban)(ban)、瓣(ban)(ban)緣皺褶或呈(cheng)不(bu)規(gui)則鋸齒等(deng)(deng); 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)有(you)紅(hong)(hong)、白、粉、紫及(ji)各種(zhong)帶斑(ban)點、網紋、條(tiao)紋等(deng)(deng); 蒴(shuo)果,種(zhong)子極(ji)小(xiao),千粒(li)重約(yue)0.1g。園藝品種(zhong)極(ji)多(duo)(duo),按植(zhi)株(zhu)性狀分(fen)(fen)有(you):高(gao)性種(zhong)、矮(ai)性種(zhong)、叢(cong)生種(zhong)、匍匐種(zhong)、直立種(zhong);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)型分(fen)(fen)有(you):大花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(10-15㎝以(yi)(yi)上(shang))、小(xiao)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)、波狀、鋸齒狀、重瓣(ban)(ban)、單瓣(ban)(ban);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)分(fen)(fen)有(you):紫紅(hong)(hong)、鮮紅(hong)(hong)、桃紅(hong)(hong)、純白、肉色(se)及(ji)多(duo)(duo)種(zhong)帶條(tiao)紋品種(zhong)(紅(hong)(hong)底白條(tiao)紋、淡藍底紅(hong)(hong)脈紋、桃紅(hong)(hong)底白斑(ban)條(tiao)等(deng)(deng))。商業上(shang)常(chang)(chang)根據花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)的大小(xiao)以(yi)(yi)及(ji)重瓣(ban)(ban)性將(jiang)矮(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)(niu)分(fen)(fen)為(wei)大花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單瓣(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單瓣(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、多(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單瓣(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、大花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)重瓣(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、重瓣(ban)(ban)豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)、重瓣(ban)(ban)多(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)和其他類(lei)(lei)型(不(bu)屬(shu)于以(yi)(yi)上(shang)類(lei)(lei)型的均歸為(wei)其他類(lei)(lei)型)。喜溫暖和陽光(guang)充(chong)(chong)(chong)足(zu)的環(huan)境。不(bu)耐(nai)霜凍,怕雨(yu)(yu)澇(lao)。它生長(chang)(chang)適溫為(wei)13℃至(zhi)18℃,冬(dong)季溫度在(zai)4℃至(zhi)10℃,如(ru)低于4℃,植(zhi)株(zhu)生長(chang)(chang)停止。夏(xia)季能耐(nai)35℃以(yi)(yi)上(shang)的高(gao)溫。夏(xia)季生長(chang)(chang)旺期,需充(chong)(chong)(chong)足(zu)水(shui)分(fen)(fen),特別在(zai)夏(xia)季高(gao)溫季節,應在(zai)早、晚澆水(shui),保持盆(pen)(pen)土(tu)濕潤。但梅雨(yu)(yu)季節,雨(yu)(yu)水(shui)多(duo)(duo),對矮(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)(niu)生長(chang)(chang)十分(fen)(fen)不(bu)利,盆(pen)(pen)土(tu)過(guo)濕,莖葉容易(yi)徒長(chang)(chang),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期雨(yu)(yu)水(shui)多(duo)(duo),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)朵易(yi)褪色(se)或腐爛。盆(pen)(pen)土(tu)若長(chang)(chang)期積水(shui),則爛根死亡(wang),所以(yi)(yi)盆(pen)(pen)栽(zai)矮(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)(niu)宜用疏松肥(fei)沃和排(pai)水(shui)良好的砂壤土(tu)。屬(shu)長(chang)(chang)日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)(zhao)植(zhi)物,生長(chang)(chang)期要(yao)求(qiu)陽光(guang)充(chong)(chong)(chong)足(zu),在(zai)正常(chang)(chang)的光(guang)照(zhao)(zhao)條(tiao)件(jian)下,從(cong)播種(zhong)至(zhi)開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)約(yue)需100天左右。冬(dong)季大棚內栽(zai)培矮(ai)牽(qian)牛(niu)(niu)時,在(zai)低溫短(duan)日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)(zhao)條(tiao)件(jian)下,莖葉生長(chang)(chang)很(hen)茂盛,但著花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)很(hen)難,當(dang)春季進入長(chang)(chang)日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)(zhao)下,很(hen)快就從(cong)莖葉頂端分(fen)(fen)化(hua)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾。
喜溫(wen)暖和(he)陽光充足的(de)(de)環境。不(bu)耐霜凍,怕雨(yu)澇。它生(sheng)長適溫(wen)為13~18℃,冬(dong)季溫(wen)度在(zai)4~10℃,如低于4℃,植株生(sheng)長停(ting)止(zhi)。夏季能耐35℃以上的(de)(de)高(gao)溫(wen)。夏季生(sheng)長旺期(qi),需充足水(shui)分,特別(bie)在(zai)夏季高(gao)溫(wen)季節(jie),應在(zai)早、晚澆水(shui),保持盆(pen)土(tu)(tu)濕潤(run)。但梅雨(yu)季節(jie),雨(yu)水(shui)多(duo),對矮牽(qian)牛生(sheng)長十(shi)分不(bu)利,盆(pen)土(tu)(tu)過濕,莖葉(xie)容易徒長,花(hua)期(qi)雨(yu)水(shui)多(duo),花(hua)朵易褪色或腐爛。盆(pen)土(tu)(tu)若長期(qi)積(ji)水(shui),則爛根死(si)亡,所以盆(pen)栽矮牽(qian)牛宜用疏(shu)松肥沃和(he)排(pai)水(shui)良好的(de)(de)砂壤土(tu)(tu)。
屬長(chang)日(ri)(ri)照植物,生(sheng)長(chang)期要求陽光充足,在(zai)正常的光照條(tiao)件下,從(cong)播(bo)種(zhong)至開花約需100天左右。冬季大棚(peng)內栽培矮牽牛時,在(zai)低(di)溫短日(ri)(ri)照條(tiao)件下,莖葉生(sheng)長(chang)很(hen)茂盛,但著花很(hen)難(nan),當(dang)春(chun)季進入長(chang)日(ri)(ri)照下,很(hen)快(kuai)就從(cong)莖葉頂端分化花蕾(lei)。
本種(zhong)是一(yi)個雜(za)交(jiao)種(zhong),它是由 P. integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz et Thell.(=P. violacea Lindl.)和 P. axillaris (Lam.) Britton 二種(zhong)雜(za)交(jiao)培(pei)(pei)育(yu)的。在(zai)世界(jie)各(ge)國花園中(zhong)普(pu)遍栽(zai)培(pei)(pei)。我(wo)國南(nan)北城市公園中(zhong)普(pu)遍栽(zai)培(pei)(pei)觀賞。矮牽(qian)牛原產南(nan)美(mei)阿根廷。現世界(jie)各(ge)地廣泛栽(zai)培(pei)(pei)。
花(hua)大而多(duo),開花(hua)繁盛,花(hua)期長,色彩(cai)豐富,是(shi)優良的花(hua)壇(tan)和種(zhong)植(zhi)缽花(hua)卉,也可(ke)自然式叢植(zhi),還可(ke)作為(wei)切(qie)花(hua)。氣(qi)候適宜或溫(wen)室栽培(pei)可(ke)四季開花(hua)。可(ke)以廣泛用于花(hua)壇(tan)布置,花(hua)槽配置,景點(dian)擺設,窗臺點(dian)綴,家庭裝飾。