Katie White Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex 'Katie')

 Also known as Katie Dwarf Ruellia, Ruellia Katie, White Katie Ruellia, Katie's Dwarf Petunia, Katie's Dwarf Mexican Petunia, Katie's White Desert Petunia, Katie's Mexican Petunia, Katie's White Mexican Petunia, White Katie Mexican Petunia, Nolan's dwarf, Texas Petunia, Dwarf Wild Petunia, Dwarf Mexican Petunia 'Blanca'. Binomial synonyms: Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie', Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie's White', Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie's Dwarf' , Ruellia brittoniana 'White Katie', Ruellia tweediana 'Katie White', Ruellia caerulea 'Katie's White', Ruellia malacosperma

Plant Type: compact low mounding spreading rhizomatous deciduous heat-tolerant flowering perennial (Evergreen in zones 9 and 10.)

Plant Family: Acanthus family (Acanthaceae)

Visual Identification: dark green foliage, long and thin in length, coming out in all directions from the base like a grass. Produces pure white trumpet shaped flowers.

Native Region(s): Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America

Landscape Use: It spreads to make a good groundcover. Also good for borders, erosion control, as a low "filler" or "spiller" in containers, and even as an indoor plant. Attracts butterflies, birds, and bees. Deer, rabbit, and pest resistant. It is a less aggressive version of Ruellia simplex — the regular-sized variety has been declared a Category 1 invasive species in Florida.

Height: 6-10 inches

Spread: 12-18 inches

Spacing: 2 feet

Hardiness Zones: 8-11 (zone 7 if protected in winter)

Hardy Down To: Will die back to the ground in zones 8b and lower. Evergreen in zones 9 and 10.

Light: shade-tolerant, but best grown in sunny areas.

Water: low to medium water needs; drought-resistant once established. They will grow poorly if the soil is not well-draining. There is no need to wait for the soil to fully dry out between waterings; it is fungus resistant.

Soil: average to moist, well-draining soil, with a pH of acidic to mildly alkaline.

Maintenance: Requires no dead-heading. Trim if getting leggy.

Fertilize: Fertilize in spring and summer with a slow-release fertilizer.

Seasons of Interest: blooms from spring to frost. Evergreen in zones 9 and 10, and may bloom year-round. In the colder temperatures of winter, leaves may take on a reddish look.

Additional Resources:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Red Yucca: Neither Red, Nor a Yucca

Image
When I first discovered seed collecting, one of the very first seeds I tried to harvest was that of the Red Yucca. I was attracted to the ease with which they could be identified and plucked from their flower spikes. The sheer number of seeds that can be found in just one pod is quite rewarding.  After doing a quick internet search on how to sow the seeds, I settled on the technique of
Read more

How to Propagate Ivy

Image
I recently had someone ask me how to propagate Ivy (of the Hedera genus). Now, I do run a business where plant propagation is about 4/5ths of the job, but am I going to gatekeep? HECK NO!  So let me tell you how to propagate Ivy! Propagation of ivy (as well as many other plants) is more successful during their time of active growth. Spring is a great time to take cuttings! Step 0:  Mise en place! (Gather your materials) nursery container(s) or a tray, with or without drainage (See: Step 1) potting media of choice (See: Step 1) sanitized cutting implement , be it scissors, shears or blade (See: Step 2) a shallow container of water rooting hormone powder  or equivalent (See: Step 3) a hole-poking implement , such as a chop stick or pencil a spray bottle  or plant mister filled with water Step 1: Prepare your propagation contai...
Read more

How to Grow Pride of Barbados from Seeds

Image
Store your seeds in a cool, dark place until you are ready to germinate them. There's a little trick to getting these seeds to sprout quickly. The technique involves soaking the seeds for at least 48 hours in water. I’ve personally had success with adding water at tea-steeping range (195° F). I’ve known other gardeners to pour in fully boiled water (212° F). It is also perfectly fine to plant the seeds directly in soil without following the numbered steps below. Sprouting may take longer, but they will germinate once the soil temperature regularly reaches 75-80° F. 1. Add your seeds to a heat-safe container such as a glass jar, coffee mug or thermos.  2. Fill your container with the heated water.  3. After 24 hours, pour off the water and refill with fresh, heated water for the second 24-hour period of soaking. The seeds are ready when they have approximately doubled in size and the seed walls are no longer rock hard. A second soaking is not necessary if the seeds have alrea...
Read more