During a visit to a nursery some time ago, I noticed a white flowering variety of the more commonplace purple ‘Katie’ ruellia and I immediately decided that I liked the white color better. This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview. Native to Baja California. Avoid repeated pruning during the year. RECOMMENDED USE: Can be used as a colorful accent in sun or light shade; lightly clipped, it makes a nice border. Prune old foliage before new leaves emerge in early spring. The seeds have been known to travel quite a distance from the plant; this is helped by rainfall or watering hoses, which can carry the seeds further than usual. If you have a Mexican petunia that is struggling to flower but has lots of lush foliage growth, then you may need to test your soil for nutrient imbalance. Borne solitary or in clusters at the tips of purplish stems, they rise above the foliage of lance-shaped, glossy green leaves. They will thrive in warmer climates and have naturalized themselves in parts of Texas, Hawaii, and South Carolina. Flowers may be purple, pink or blue depending on cultivar. protected area, Desert Ruellia requires almost no maintenance. Read here to learn more about growing ruellia. If you want more of this plant growing in your garden, simply allow the flowers to turn to seed; they will drop to the ground and sow themselves where they land. Large lavender-blue flowers are backed by low, spreading mounds narrow, dark green foliage. Amend the planting spot with some mature compost, and remove all weeds four to five weeks before planting. The widely adaptable dwarf Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) has been named a Texas Superstar® by Texas A&M University.“I first observed Ruellia growing in the neglected space between a sidewalk and the street in San Antonio,” said Dr. Wayne Mackay, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station horticulture researcher at Texas A&M Dallas. Soil, which is high in nitrogen, will see the Mexican petunia produce lots of dark green foliage in favor of flowers. Size: 3 ft high by 4 ft wide Leaves: Opposite, medium green, lance shaped Flowers: Purple, bell shaped with ruffled edges Fruit: Seed Stems/Trunks: Upright Range/Origin: Baja California, Sonora Desert Hardiness: Sunset Zones 12,13, 21-24, 28 o F The plant can have a tendency to self-seed quite aggressively, with the seeds dispersing themselves as much as 10 feet away from the plant. Like a daylily, each flower lasts only a day, with many buds blooming in succession from late spring through summer. Maintenance: Prune back to 1 1/2 ft. in early March. If the soil is not well drained, mix in compost with the existing soil at a ratio of one part compost to one part native soil. Soil drainag… Double Knockout Rose - Varieties, Care & Planting Information, 10 Best Perennial Flowers For Your Garden, 8 Exciting Japanese Flowers - Photos, Uses, and Care Guides, 9 Mexican Flowers with Photos & Growing Guides, Mexican petunia, Mexican bluebell, Florida bluebell, Desert petunia, Britton’s wild petunia, Purple ruellia. Fast growing in partial to full sun, Ruellia can become invasive in moist garden soil, spreading by it's root system and reseeding easily. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Desert ruellia is not a fussy plant; its requirements are few. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Heat and drought tolerant. It will grow in almost any condition, including poor quality soil, but for best results, you should use a well-draining and fertile soil. Care Desert ruellia prefers full sun and well-drained soil. 9 Different Indoor Tropical Plants - Growing Guides & Photos. Water deeply, regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Tough plant that takes dry or wet soil. this evergreen shrub has a naturally rounded form, with white-grey stems, small glossy green leaves, and deep blue flowers. Aside from removing dead or damaged stems, this plant doesn’t necessarily require pruning, but it depends on the type of look you like in your garden. These plants are hardy through USDA hardiness zones 7 to 11. When growing in a colder climate, grow your Mexican petunias in containers so that you have the option of portability during the winter. You can try to flush out the nitrogen with lots of generous watering to resolve this problem, or you can add a layer of mulch to the surface of the soil, as this can help to draw nitrogen out. If you have a history of poor watering habits or have experienced plants that die from either overwatering or from lack of water, then the Mexican petunia would be a great feature in your garden, as it will not have a problem with inconsistent watering. This shrub is a great alternative for Texas Sage because it does not grow as large. When grown in the garden, the best way to manage their watering is to maintain moist, but not soggy, soil. Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) – Growing and Care Information by Max - last update on December 9, 2020, 8:37 am Mexican petunias are a pretty flowering evergreen perennial that can be grown in containers, as shrub-like plants, or as ground cover . In freezing climates, prune back damaged foliage in early spring. Each flower only lasts one day, but during the long blooming season, the plant produces so many flowers that you will never be short on the pretty purple blossoms. When allowed to grow in these conditions, they will produce an abundance of flowers. Do not over-water as it leads to root-rot. This won't delete the recipes and articles you've saved, just the list. If you want to encourage more flowers to appear, cut back the stems in early spring. This southern California native shrub produces a dense mass of small, glossy leaves and purple, petunia-like flowers in late spring and early summer. Mexican petunias do not require feeding. If you prefer a well-manicured style, then prune the plant to your desired shape. The plant should be cut regularly for branching. If you experience a fairly dry winter, then you can continue to water the plant whenever the soil appears visibly dried out. What Is Ruellia Wild Petunia: Learn About The Care Of Ruellia Plants. You can test for moisture by touching the top of the soil, or you can simply judge from sight. Sporadic flowering can occur throughout the season. Plant it in well-drained soil in a hole that is three times as wide as the rootball. An improved dwarf variety that continues to bloom summer-long, without deadheading! 2 more photos VIEW GALLERY. So, what is ruellia and can it be grown in the garden? Upon bursting, the seeds will be dispersed onto the ground, where they will sow themselves. The large, petunia-like blooms are backed by dense clumps of narrow, dark green foliage. Christmas Tree Economics: Are Baby Boomers Killing the Christmas Tree Industry? These flowers have a trumpet or bell shape, and rise high above the foliage of the plant, growing from dark purple-hued stems. Each stem, which would have developed one flower, will respond by branching out several stems, which will each produce a flower. They typically measure around 2 inches in diameter and have a delicate lilac-blue color. In terms of frequency of watering, this will depend on lots of variables, including the lighting position that your plant is grown in, the climate, the type of soil, and whether it is growing directly in the ground or in a pot. Mexican petunias are very heat-tolerant, so don’t feel the need to shade them to protect them from the heat. Ruellia brittoniana 'Purple Showers'. This is the white version of the more common purple Ruellia. It is when the plant is growing in very moist soils that it tends to become overgrown more easily. Ideal for border or accent in hot, sunny gardens with lean, fast draining soil. Interestingly, the stem of this plant becomes more purple when it’s in bright light, as opposed to when it’s grown in a shady area, where the stem stays fairly green. Quickly fills in as a ground cover. Water in early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler and direct sun will not cook off the moisture before it can seep down to the roots. Description. Mexican petunias are incredibly tolerant of any watering conditions. They enjoy the warmth and can happily grow in a full sun position where they can bask in the heat all day long. You can also deadhead the plant if you want to prevent self-seeding. Are you sure you want to delete your notes for this recipe? Ruellia Brittoniana Pink Ruellia Brittoniana Brittish Ruellia is a fast growing upright evergreen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In freezing climates, prune back damaged foliage in early spring. They flower year round here, and will get thicker if you … Root cuttings in spring or early summer. Mexican petunias are a very hardy plant in many aspects, and they will tolerate a wide range of suboptimal growing conditions, but the one area in which they fall down is in very low temperatures. Watering Pour 2 cups or 500ml every day only when the the soil begins to dry out. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates moderate drought. Forms a naturally neat, mounded form. These are a favorite for anyone that does not have a green thumb and still wants to have a thriving, colorful plant in their yard! They have no scent but are still very attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. The deep purple flowers and interesting white-grey stems make for some great contrast. In the most extreme cases, you may need to dig up your plant and transplant it to a different soil. It readily self-seeds and has been classified as an invasive plant in the state of Florida. ‘White Katie’ ruellia grows to 8 inches tall and 1 1/2 ft. wide in zone 8 gardens and warmer. The plant grows rapidly, and because of this, it is known as an invasive species in some regions, notably Florida. I. f you want to keep it under control in your garden, then allow the plant a little less water. They have also naturalized in Florida, where they grow so aggressively that they are able to choke out other plants that are native to the state. Do you have additional information or a different experience for this plant that you would like to share? During winter, you shouldn’t need to water the plant so long as there is sufficient rainfall. Ruellia peninsularis Desert Ruellia Desert Ruellia is frequently planted along streetscapes and freeways, but its true beauty is best appreciated up-close and personal. They are most tolerant of the heat when grown in moist conditions and note that when grown in a hot climate, the plant will like to be watered more frequently. If you are growing these plants in a cooler climate, they should be protected from cold winters, either by moving them to a protected position out of the cold breeze, by bringing them indoors or by covering them with gardening fleece. Learn more. Several desert plants are perennial (you need to plant them only once), hardy, low care, relatively drought tolerant, easy to find, pretty cheap to buy, and provide lovely color many times during the year. Desert Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) is a medium-sized shrub with light green foliage and purple flowers that appear spring through fall. Perfect for Trees.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is a beautiful addition to a flowering backyard retreat. Other common names are Desert Petunia and Baja Ruellia. Aside from flower production, the other way Mexican petunias are affected by light is with the color of their stems. Why? Grows easily in average, well-drained soils. Propagation Sow seed in spring. Southern Plains: January Garden To-Do List, Traveling Plants | Letter from the Editor, A Fool and His Garden | Letter from the Editor, Dahlias Don’t Ask Much | Letter from the Editor, It’s Just Business | Letter from the Editor. Propagation Sow seed in spring. Spreading shrub. Get complete site access to decades of expert advice, regional content, and more, plus the print magazine. By Amy Grant. Faded flowers should be … They grow rapidly and spread easily, even in conditions that would be less than ideal for many plants. Katie Blue Dwarf Mexican Petunia is a lovely dwarf perennial that produces loads of bluish purple trumpet shaped flowers tucked in among the dark green glossy foliage from … Your email address will not be published. Plant Desert Ruellia in full sun to maintain a dense form. Drought tolerant when established, in cooler summer climates. If you would rather not have your garden taken over by Mexican petunias, you will need to deadhead the blooms once they fade. The flowers of the Mexican petunia bloom from the middle of summer through to fall. It stays compact, growing to a foot or so tall by as wide. The Mexican petunia (Ruellia rudiflora) is a lovely addition to the garden but has a tendency to take over once it becomes established. In the summer it is better not to take out on the balcony or the garden. You can do this by watering the plant as soon as the top layer of the soil starts to dry out. If the top layer of soil is already moist, then you don’t need to add any further water. These desert plants aren't rare; after a while, you'll notice that they are everywhere -- even on the highways and in public parks. Acanthaceae : Form: Shrub Seasonality: Evergreen. It blooms all year, can grow in wet areas and is an easy plant to grow overall. Select a … If your soil is nutrient deficient, your Mexican petunia should still produce a good number of flowers, but you can help it along by adding a balanced fertilizer if you wish. This larger species of Ruellia has smaller flowers, which are violet purple. Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. As the plant is not sensitive to heat, the time of day when the Mexican petunia gets direct sun is not important, though in general, sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon is preferable when growing a plant in partial shade. If you grow these plants in containers, you have the option of moving them throughout the year to a full sun position during summertime, then a more protected and potentially shaded position during cooler months. Baja Ruellia . By tactically pruning the plant in this way, you can increase the flower production quite dramatically, but the plant does tend to flower quite prolifically even without this measure. Spectacular dwarf variety of this easy to grow, heat-tolerant perennial is loaded with purple flowers through out the warm season. 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