Of South American origin, the popular flower got its name from the French, which took the word pétun – “tobacco,” to which it is related, as are tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers ...

(credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST ... Of South American origin, the popular flower got its name from the French, which took the word pétun – “tobacco,” to which it is ...

Researchers in Israel believe they’ve identified the “fragrance gene” in petunias – a discovery that could allow them to create many other types of flowers with stronger, longer-lasting scents.

The name itself, Italia Valeriana, suggests that it does not grow only in Israel but also in Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. The Italia Valeriana flower is ...