茄(qie)科碧冬(dong)(dong)茄(qie)屬(shu)植(zhi)物。多(duo)(duo)(duo)年生草(cao)本,常作一、二年生栽培; 株(zhu)(zhu)高15~80cm,也有叢生和(he)匍匐類(lei)(lei)型(xing); 葉橢圓或卵圓形; 播種(zhong)后(hou)當(dang)年可開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期長達(da)數月(yue),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠喇叭狀; 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)形有單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)緣皺(zhou)褶或呈(cheng)不規(gui)則鋸齒等; 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)(se)有紅(hong)、白、粉、紫及(ji)各種(zhong)帶斑點、網(wang)紋、條紋等; 蒴果,種(zhong)子(zi)極小(xiao)(xiao),千粒重(zhong)約0.1g。園藝品(pin)種(zhong)極多(duo)(duo)(duo),按植(zhi)株(zhu)(zhu)性(xing)狀分有:高性(xing)種(zhong)、矮性(xing)種(zhong)、叢生種(zhong)、匍匐種(zhong)、直立種(zhong);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)型(xing)分有:大(da)(da)(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(10-15㎝以(yi)(yi)上)、小(xiao)(xiao)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)、波(bo)狀、鋸齒狀、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)(se)分有:紫紅(hong)、鮮紅(hong)、桃(tao)紅(hong)、純(chun)白、肉色(se)(se)及(ji)多(duo)(duo)(duo)種(zhong)帶條紋品(pin)種(zhong)(紅(hong)底(di)(di)白條紋、淡藍底(di)(di)紅(hong)脈(mo)紋、桃(tao)紅(hong)底(di)(di)白斑條等)。商業上常根據花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)的大(da)(da)(da)小(xiao)(xiao)以(yi)(yi)及(ji)重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)性(xing)將(jiang)矮牽牛(niu)分為大(da)(da)(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、多(duo)(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、大(da)(da)(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)(lei)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)、重(zhong)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)多(duo)(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)(lei)和(he)其他類(lei)(lei)型(xing)(不屬(shu)于(yu)以(yi)(yi)上類(lei)(lei)型(xing)的均歸(gui)為其他類(lei)(lei)型(xing))。喜(xi)溫(wen)(wen)暖和(he)陽(yang)光充(chong)足(zu)(zu)的環境。不耐(nai)霜凍,怕雨(yu)(yu)澇(lao)。它生長適(shi)溫(wen)(wen)為13℃至18℃,冬(dong)(dong)季(ji)溫(wen)(wen)度在(zai)4℃至10℃,如低(di)(di)于(yu)4℃,植(zhi)株(zhu)(zhu)生長停止。夏季(ji)能(neng)耐(nai)35℃以(yi)(yi)上的高溫(wen)(wen)。夏季(ji)生長旺期,需充(chong)足(zu)(zu)水(shui)分,特別在(zai)夏季(ji)高溫(wen)(wen)季(ji)節(jie)(jie),應在(zai)早、晚澆水(shui),保持(chi)盆(pen)土濕(shi)潤。但(dan)梅雨(yu)(yu)季(ji)節(jie)(jie),雨(yu)(yu)水(shui)多(duo)(duo)(duo),對矮牽牛(niu)生長十分不利,盆(pen)土過濕(shi),莖葉容易徒長,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期雨(yu)(yu)水(shui)多(duo)(duo)(duo),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)朵易褪(tun)色(se)(se)或腐爛。盆(pen)土若長期積(ji)水(shui),則爛根死亡,所以(yi)(yi)盆(pen)栽矮牽牛(niu)宜(yi)用疏松肥沃和(he)排水(shui)良好的砂壤土。屬(shu)長日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)植(zhi)物,生長期要(yao)求陽(yang)光充(chong)足(zu)(zu),在(zai)正常的光照(zhao)條件下(xia),從播種(zhong)至開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)約需100天(tian)左(zuo)右。冬(dong)(dong)季(ji)大(da)(da)(da)棚內栽培矮牽牛(niu)時,在(zai)低(di)(di)溫(wen)(wen)短(duan)日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)條件下(xia),莖葉生長很茂盛,但(dan)著花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)很難,當(dang)春(chun)季(ji)進入長日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)下(xia),很快就從莖葉頂端分化花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾。
喜(xi)溫暖和(he)陽光充(chong)(chong)足的(de)(de)環境(jing)。不(bu)耐(nai)霜凍,怕雨澇。它生(sheng)長適(shi)溫為13~18℃,冬季(ji)(ji)溫度在(zai)4~10℃,如低于4℃,植株(zhu)生(sheng)長停止。夏季(ji)(ji)能耐(nai)35℃以(yi)上的(de)(de)高溫。夏季(ji)(ji)生(sheng)長旺期,需(xu)充(chong)(chong)足水(shui)分,特別在(zai)夏季(ji)(ji)高溫季(ji)(ji)節(jie),應在(zai)早、晚澆水(shui),保持盆土(tu)濕(shi)潤。但梅(mei)雨季(ji)(ji)節(jie),雨水(shui)多,對矮牽牛生(sheng)長十分不(bu)利(li),盆土(tu)過濕(shi),莖葉容易(yi)徒長,花(hua)期雨水(shui)多,花(hua)朵易(yi)褪色或腐爛。盆土(tu)若長期積水(shui),則爛根(gen)死亡,所以(yi)盆栽(zai)矮牽牛宜用疏松肥沃和(he)排水(shui)良好的(de)(de)砂壤土(tu)。
屬(shu)長日照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)植物,生(sheng)(sheng)長期(qi)要求(qiu)陽光(guang)充足,在正常的光(guang)照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)條件下,從播種至開花約需(xu)100天左右。冬季(ji)大棚(peng)內(nei)栽(zai)培矮(ai)牽牛(niu)時,在低溫短日照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)條件下,莖葉(xie)生(sheng)(sheng)長很(hen)茂(mao)盛,但著花很(hen)難,當春季(ji)進(jin)入長日照(zhao)(zhao)(zhao)下,很(hen)快就從莖葉(xie)頂端分化花蕾。
本種是(shi)一個雜(za)交種,它是(shi)由 P. integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz et Thell.(=P. violacea Lindl.)和(he) P. axillaris (Lam.) Britton 二種雜(za)交培育的。在世界(jie)各國(guo)花園(yuan)中普遍栽培。我國(guo)南北城市(shi)公園(yuan)中普遍栽培觀賞。矮牽牛原產南美阿根廷。現世界(jie)各地廣(guang)泛栽培。
花(hua)(hua)大而多,開(kai)花(hua)(hua)繁盛,花(hua)(hua)期長(chang),色彩豐富,是優良的花(hua)(hua)壇(tan)和種(zhong)植缽花(hua)(hua)卉(hui),也可自然式叢植,還可作為切花(hua)(hua)。氣候(hou)適宜或溫室栽培可四季開(kai)花(hua)(hua)。可以廣泛(fan)用于花(hua)(hua)壇(tan)布(bu)置,花(hua)(hua)槽(cao)配置,景點(dian)擺(bai)設(she),窗(chuang)臺(tai)點(dian)綴(zhui),家庭裝飾。