茄科(ke)碧冬(dong)茄屬(shu)植(zhi)物。多(duo)(duo)(duo)年生(sheng)草本(ben),常(chang)作一、二年生(sheng)栽(zai)培; 株高(gao)(gao)15~80cm,也有(you)叢生(sheng)和(he)(he)匍(pu)(pu)匐(fu)類(lei)型(xing)(xing); 葉(xie)橢(tuo)圓(yuan)或卵圓(yuan)形; 播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)后(hou)當(dang)年可開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期(qi)長(chang)(chang)達數月,花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)冠喇叭狀(zhuang); 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)形有(you)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、重瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)緣皺褶或呈不(bu)規(gui)則鋸(ju)齒等; 花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)有(you)紅、白(bai)、粉(fen)、紫(zi)及(ji)各種(zhong)(zhong)帶(dai)斑點、網(wang)紋(wen)、條(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)紋(wen)等; 蒴果,種(zhong)(zhong)子極小(xiao),千粒重約0.1g。園藝品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)極多(duo)(duo)(duo),按植(zhi)株性(xing)狀(zhuang)分(fen)有(you):高(gao)(gao)性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)、矮性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)、叢生(sheng)種(zhong)(zhong)、匍(pu)(pu)匐(fu)種(zhong)(zhong)、直立種(zhong)(zhong);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)型(xing)(xing)分(fen)有(you):大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(10-15㎝以(yi)上)、小(xiao)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)、波狀(zhuang)、鋸(ju)齒狀(zhuang)、重瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)、單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban);按花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)色(se)分(fen)有(you):紫(zi)紅、鮮(xian)紅、桃紅、純白(bai)、肉(rou)色(se)及(ji)多(duo)(duo)(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)帶(dai)條(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)紋(wen)品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(紅底白(bai)條(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)紋(wen)、淡藍底紅脈紋(wen)、桃紅底白(bai)斑條(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)等)。商業上常(chang)根據花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)大(da)小(xiao)以(yi)及(ji)重瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)性(xing)將矮牽(qian)牛分(fen)為(wei)大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)、豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)、多(duo)(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)單(dan)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)、大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)重瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)類(lei)、重瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)豐花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)、重瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)多(duo)(duo)(duo)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)類(lei)和(he)(he)其(qi)他類(lei)型(xing)(xing)(不(bu)屬(shu)于以(yi)上類(lei)型(xing)(xing)的(de)(de)均歸為(wei)其(qi)他類(lei)型(xing)(xing))。喜溫(wen)(wen)暖和(he)(he)陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)充(chong)足(zu)的(de)(de)環(huan)境(jing)。不(bu)耐(nai)霜凍,怕(pa)雨(yu)(yu)澇。它生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)適溫(wen)(wen)為(wei)13℃至(zhi)(zhi)18℃,冬(dong)季(ji)溫(wen)(wen)度在(zai)4℃至(zhi)(zhi)10℃,如(ru)低(di)于4℃,植(zhi)株生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)停止。夏季(ji)能耐(nai)35℃以(yi)上的(de)(de)高(gao)(gao)溫(wen)(wen)。夏季(ji)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)旺期(qi),需(xu)充(chong)足(zu)水分(fen),特別在(zai)夏季(ji)高(gao)(gao)溫(wen)(wen)季(ji)節(jie),應在(zai)早、晚澆水,保持盆(pen)土(tu)(tu)濕潤。但(dan)梅雨(yu)(yu)季(ji)節(jie),雨(yu)(yu)水多(duo)(duo)(duo),對矮牽(qian)牛生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)十分(fen)不(bu)利,盆(pen)土(tu)(tu)過(guo)濕,莖葉(xie)容易徒長(chang)(chang),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)期(qi)雨(yu)(yu)水多(duo)(duo)(duo),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)朵易褪色(se)或腐爛。盆(pen)土(tu)(tu)若長(chang)(chang)期(qi)積(ji)水,則爛根死亡,所以(yi)盆(pen)栽(zai)矮牽(qian)牛宜用疏松肥(fei)沃和(he)(he)排水良好的(de)(de)砂壤土(tu)(tu)。屬(shu)長(chang)(chang)日照(zhao)植(zhi)物,生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)期(qi)要求陽(yang)光(guang)(guang)充(chong)足(zu),在(zai)正(zheng)常(chang)的(de)(de)光(guang)(guang)照(zhao)條(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)件下(xia),從播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)至(zhi)(zhi)開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)約需(xu)100天(tian)左右。冬(dong)季(ji)大(da)棚內栽(zai)培矮牽(qian)牛時,在(zai)低(di)溫(wen)(wen)短日照(zhao)條(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)件下(xia),莖葉(xie)生(sheng)長(chang)(chang)很茂盛,但(dan)著花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)很難,當(dang)春季(ji)進(jin)入長(chang)(chang)日照(zhao)下(xia),很快(kuai)就(jiu)從莖葉(xie)頂端分(fen)化花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾。
喜(xi)溫暖和陽光(guang)充足的(de)環境。不(bu)耐霜凍,怕雨澇。它(ta)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)適(shi)溫為13~18℃,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)溫度在4~10℃,如低于4℃,植株生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)停止。夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)能耐35℃以上(shang)的(de)高溫。夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)旺期,需充足水(shui)(shui)分,特別在夏(xia)季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)高溫季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)節(jie),應在早、晚澆水(shui)(shui),保持(chi)盆土濕潤。但梅雨季(ji)(ji)(ji)(ji)節(jie),雨水(shui)(shui)多,對矮(ai)牽(qian)(qian)牛生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)長(chang)十(shi)分不(bu)利,盆土過濕,莖葉容(rong)易徒長(chang),花期雨水(shui)(shui)多,花朵易褪色(se)或(huo)腐爛。盆土若長(chang)期積水(shui)(shui),則爛根死亡,所以盆栽矮(ai)牽(qian)(qian)牛宜用疏(shu)松肥沃和排水(shui)(shui)良好的(de)砂壤土。
屬長日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)(zhao)植物,生(sheng)長期要(yao)求陽光(guang)充足,在正常(chang)的(de)光(guang)照(zhao)(zhao)條件下,從播種(zhong)至開(kai)花(hua)約需100天左右。冬季大棚內栽培(pei)矮牽牛時,在低(di)溫短日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)(zhao)條件下,莖葉(xie)生(sheng)長很(hen)茂盛,但著花(hua)很(hen)難,當春(chun)季進(jin)入長日(ri)(ri)照(zhao)(zhao)下,很(hen)快就從莖葉(xie)頂(ding)端分化花(hua)蕾(lei)。
本種是一個雜交種,它是由 P. integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz et Thell.(=P. violacea Lindl.)和 P. axillaris (Lam.) Britton 二種雜交培(pei)育的。在世(shi)界各(ge)(ge)國花園中(zhong)普(pu)遍(bian)栽培(pei)。我國南北城市公園中(zhong)普(pu)遍(bian)栽培(pei)觀賞。矮牽牛(niu)原產南美阿(a)根廷(ting)。現(xian)世(shi)界各(ge)(ge)地廣泛栽培(pei)。
花(hua)(hua)大而多,開(kai)花(hua)(hua)繁盛,花(hua)(hua)期長,色彩豐富,是優良的花(hua)(hua)壇和種(zhong)植(zhi)缽花(hua)(hua)卉,也(ye)可(ke)自然式叢植(zhi),還可(ke)作(zuo)為切花(hua)(hua)。氣候適宜或溫(wen)室栽培可(ke)四季(ji)開(kai)花(hua)(hua)。可(ke)以廣泛(fan)用于花(hua)(hua)壇布置(zhi),花(hua)(hua)槽配置(zhi),景(jing)點擺設,窗臺點綴,家庭(ting)裝飾。