Ruellia, Dwarf, Purple (Ruellia simplex)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial, fast growth, spreading (in wet soils) or clumping (in well-draining soils) habit.
Plant Family: Acanthus family (Acanthaceae)
Visual Identification: petunia-like, lavender-blue to purple flowers up to two inches in diameter that bloom atop glossy, dark green, narrow, grass-like leaves with deeply veined detail.
Native Region(s): Mexico, the West Indies, western Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina
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. Good for butterfly gardens, bog gardens, perennial gardens, cottage gardens, and pink theme gardens. They can be planted close to bodies of water and the ocean, as it is salt tolerant. Attracts butterflies, birds, and bees. Deer, rabbit, pest, and fungus resistant. It is a less aggressive version of Ruellia simplex — the regular-sized variety has been declared a Category 1 invasive species in Florida. Ruellia simplex is also listed as an invasive species in Hawaii.
Spread: 15-24 inches
Spacing: 18 inches for mass plantings; 3 feet or more for space between plants
Hardiness Zones: 8-11 (zone 7 if protected in winter). Can
be brought indoors over the winter by those north of USDA Zone 8.
Hardy Down To: doesn't have an upper heat limit. Hardy
down to 25° F.
Light: full sun (partial shade tolerated). At
least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day is required to achieve full flowering
performance.
Water: average water needs. There is no need to let the soil dry out between waterings; it prefers consistently moist soil. Ruellia will tolerate many conditions from boglands to drought-ridden areas (once established). Flowering will be diminished without consistent watering or rainfall.
Soil: grows best in a consistently moist, fertile, well-draining soil, with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. Ruellia will tolerate alkaline soils. It can grow in a variety of soil conditions, including wet, moist soil. When established, ruellia can tolerate drought conditions. In consistently boggy/marshy soils the plant will spread vigorously via rhizomes (roots). In well-drained soils it will tend toward a clump-forming habit. When planting in-ground, add some moisture-retaining media such as topsoil, peat moss, or potting soil to help the roots stay hydrated.
Maintenance: Requires no dead-heading. Trim if getting
leggy. In frost-free areas, shear old foliage in spring.
Fertilize: In spring and summer, fertilize with a
slow-release fertilizer.
Seasons of Interest:
In frost-free regions, this ruellia will bloom year-round. Each bloom only lasts for a day, but the plant blooms profusely in the right conditions. In colder regions, blooming begins in late spring and continues up to the first frost. In colder temperatures, the leaves will take on a reddish color.
Toxicity: non-toxic
to pets and humans
Additional Resources:
- CABI, Invasive Species Compendium (cabi.cor/isc), "Ruellia simplex (Mexican Petunia)"
- gardenloversclub.com, "Growing Dwarf Mexican Petunia"
- invasiveplantatlas.org, "Britton's wild petunia"
- Simple Living in Nancy (chingchailah.blogspot.com), "Purple, Pink and White Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana or Ruellia simplex)"
- wilsonbrosgardens.com, "Katie Purple Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Ruellia) - 5 Pack Quart Pots"
Quick Care Guide:
🌱 𝗠𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲, 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹 Potting Mix Recipe: 1 part peat moss or coco coir, 1 part perlite, 1 part compost
🌤️ 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗻. full sun (partial shade tolerated). At least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day is required to achieve full flowering performance.
🌡️ 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. Hardiness Zones: 8-11 (zone 7 if protected in winter). Can be brought indoors over the winter by those north of USDA Zone 8.
💧 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀. Drought-tolerant once established, but grows best if soil is consistently moist.
☠️ 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 to pets and humans.
Other Ruellia varieties:
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