No serious insect or disease problems. Often confused with Ruellia tweediana, but its leaves are a bit shorter and wider. Ruellia flowers from mid spring through the first frosts of fall with purple or blue blooms (on occasion red or pink) on purple stems. It has been widely used as an ornamental plant and has escaped from cultivation in the United States, Australia and parts of Asia, as well as several Pacific Islands. It grows in the ground in our garden in a harsh location -- a narrow bed between a concrete walk and a brick patio, in full sun in summer and partial shade in winter. Ruellia sarukhaniana. 5953] Ruellia species [Tripp et al. Originally native to Mexico, it is now found in the Southwest United States, naturalized in many areas. Plants may spread invasively by self-seeding and rhizomes. It is a native of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. Each flower blooms for only one day. Considerable confusion has existed over the years as to the correct specific epithet for this plant. It is native to Mexico, but has escaped gardens and naturalized somewhat aggressively in parts of the southeastern U. S. from South Carolina to Texas plus Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands. It typically grows to 3-4’ tall in the wild, but to 2-3’ tall in gardens. Native to Mexico and western South America, Ruellia simplex, also known as R. tweediana, R. brittoniana, R. coerulea, and R. malacosperma, is cold hardy to USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11.Although there has been confusion over the plants’ proper name since a German botanist named them in 1879, most horticulturists now refer to them as R. tweediana. For sheer flower power … The Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is a beautiful addition to a flowering backyard retreat.As a hardy perennial (you only need to plant them once), the Mexican petunia is one of several desert plants that are recommended for warm, dry climates. It is characterized by linear to lanceolate leaves 3 to 7 inches long with very prominent veins, oppositely arranged along the stem. Invasiveness is clearly not a problem in St. Louis, however, where these plants are grown as annuals, with stem cuttings overwintered indoors if desired. Ruellia simplex is native to Mexico, the West Indies, western Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Plants branch from the ground into several woody-based stems clothed … The Care & Maintenance of a Mexican Petunia. Ruellia solitaria. Plants are most invasive in moist areas. It has square stems which grow from underground rhizomes. Ruellia simplex, commonly called Mexican petunia or Texas petunia, is a vigorous, shrubby, woody-based, rhizomatous perennial that is grown as an annual north of USDA Zone 8.It is native to Mexico, but has escaped gardens and naturalized somewhat aggressively in parts of the southeastern U. S. from South Carolina to Texas plus Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U. Notwithstanding its value as an excellent flowering plant, this species is currently listed as a Category One invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FEPPC) because it has been found to invade natural areas and displace native flora in the State of Florida. Central Phoenix -- Katie blue Ruellia brittoniana is a very tough plant. Phonetic Spelling roo-EL-ee-yuh SIM-plecks Description. This plant thrives in moist, fertile, humusy but well-drained soils. Central, North, South Invasive (No Uses) Species evaluated with the Predictive Tool: The wild form has purple flowers, and is native to Mexico, Western South America and the Antilles. Ruellia simplex, commonly called Mexican petunia or Texas petunia, is a vigorous, shrubby, woody-based, rhizomatous perennial that is grown as an annual north of USDA Zone 8. Britton's wild petunia, Mexican bluebell, Mexican petunia Synonyms. Ruellia simplex. Map). Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex) Biology and Management Adrienne M. Smith UF/IFAS Aquatic Weed Control Short Course May 6, 2015. In woodlands where there is an absence of fire or other It has become invasive in some of these areas, forming dense, single-species stands of vegetation which threaten native plants. Machu™ Morado Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is an easy to grow heat and sunloving tropical well suited to container culture as well as in the garden and landscape. [1][2], Ruellia simplex C.Wright is the oldest and accepted name for this species, which has been variously called Ruellia angustifolia (Nees) Lindau, Ruellia brittoniana Leonard, and Cryphiacanthus angustifolius Nees, among several synonyms. Habitats include moist to mesic open woodlands, woodland edges, areas along woodland paths, thickets, thinly wooded slopes along rivers, and rocky banks of streams. Avoid using it in areas that receive shade for more than half the day or it will reduce the flowering and promote a sprawling growth habit. For USDA Zones 8-10, it may be effectively grown in bog gardens, as a pond marginal, and in beds and borders. Purple Showers Ruellia is quite adaptable to soil types and moisture levels but will produce the most flowers in a good garden soil with average moisture. Ruellia simplex (Britton's wild petunia, Mexican petunia, Mexican bluebell) is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. It grows well in sun and shade. Other Names: Ruellia simplex, Ruellia tweediana, Wild Petunia, Description: This variety is quite adaptable, tolerating average to wet conditions in any kind of soil; abundant purple flowers all season long; cut back stems to encourage re-blooming; does not set seed but will spread by rhizomes; beautiful when massed in borders The purple flowers of the Ruellia contrast nicely with … [5], Dwarf Mexican Petunia or Katie Pink or Katie Ruellia -- Ruellia simplex, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruellia_simplex&oldid=987048548, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 November 2020, at 15:53. Grown from rhizomes and seeds, the Mexican petunia prefers moist wetlands and can quickly colonize areas in moist, foggy climates such as Northern California. It has become a widespread invasive plant in Florida, where it was likely introduced as an ornamental before 1933. Ruellia simplex. Easy to propagate by cuttings, division and seed. Ruellia simplex, commonly called Mexican petunia or Texas petunia, is a vigorous, shrubby, woody-based, rhizomatous perennial that is grown as an annual north of USDA Zone 8. Common Names. Mexican-petunia (also known as Mexican bluebell or Britton’s petunia) is described as a “hardy perennial edging plant for flower beds and as colorful groundcovers.” Scientific names include Ruellia brittoniana, R. coerulea and R. tweediana, but taxonomists now use the name Ruellia simplex, which was the first name used to describe this species. Ruellia tweedieana, Cryphiacanthus angustifolius, Ruellia spectabilis, Ruellia coerulea, Ruellia brittoniana Common Name: Mexican Petunia, Desert Petunia, Mexican Bluebells, Florida Bluebells, Spanish Ladies The website also provides access to a database and images of plants photos and herbarium specimens found at … Ruellia sororia. nov. Ruellia sp. For example, it is listed as a significant non-declared pest plant in Maroochy Shire, an undesirable plant in Caboolture Shire, and a weed of natural bushland and waterways in Gold Coast City. It also does well in average garden soils with even moisture. It is proving especially problematic in wet areas and can out-compete closely related native species in such environments (e.g. Although Ruellia simplex has lovely blooms, due to its invasive tendencies it is not a good plant for Florida gardens. 6776] Ruellia speciosa. It thrives as a marginal water plant and in boggy soils. Best flowering occurs in the deep South near the temperatures of its Mexican origin where flowers may appear from May to November, but sometimes year round. caroliniensisas Plants will spread by rhizomes and self-seeding in the garden, and have escaped gardens and aggressively naturalized in parts of the southeastern U.S. For many years it was watered sporadically, but is now on a drip system and has become more robust. Results indicate that the production of interspecific hybrids is possible, but only in one direction (i.e., withR. Excellent annual flowering plant for areas where it is not winter hardy. They are … Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is a low-growing evergreen shrub with long leaves and blue … It has been widely used as an ornamental plant and has escaped from cultivation in the United States, Australia and parts of Asia, as well as several Pacific Islands. Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex) has also become invasive in south-eastern USA, where it has spread rapidly and displaced native flora. Winter hardy to USDA Zone 8 (marginally hardy in Zone 7 with protection and mulch) where it is best grown in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Ruellia Simplex. Adaptable to soil types but prefers a sunny site in a fertile moist to average moist soil. Common Wild Petunia’s blue and lavender flowers compliment the yellows and whites of many summer flowering plants. Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Jan 27, 2017 1:32 PM. nov. [Tripp et al. May be grown indoors as a houseplant. Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types including heavy clay, acidic, sandy, loamy, and occasionally wet soils. Ruellia tweediana, Ruellia brittoniana, Ruellia caerulea Conclusions by Zone. 5944] Ruellia species [Tripp et al. We moved into our current home nine months go and I've been trying to eradicate this plant from two separate areas of my yard ever since. Thanks to its sweet purple flowers, however, we come down firmly on the pro-ruellia side of the debate. Beloved by many gardeners for its heat tolerance and shade-loving nature, but reviled by others for its eagerness to spread with abandon, R. simplex can be divisive. Noteworthy Characteristics. Best flowering is in full sun. R. simplex grows in a wide range of environmental conditions, from wetlands to almost xeric habitats. Tubular, trumpet-shaped, 5-lobed, petunia-like, lavender to violet flowers (to 1.75” long) bloom from the upper leaf axils in loose purple-stemmed clusters (long-stalked cymes). Ruellia spectabilis. Share. It has been found that C. Wright named this plant Ruellia simplex in 1870 and Ruellia simplex is the name that this plant appears under in Wunderlin's Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Seeds persist in the soil. There main blooming period is from Spring to summer, but many Ruellia will also … Flowers are followed by bean-like pods (to 1” long) which explosively dehisce mature seed in all directions. Flowering is very respectable but less frequent when plants are grown as annuals in northern gardens, but will typically bloom from May to September. It can be significantly invasive in areas such as the Florida where it is has been declared to be a Category 1 invasive species. Tough plant that takes dry or wet soil. Established plants have respectable drought tolerance. [3] The genus is named after French botanist Jean Ruel, while the specific name refers to the simple, not compound leaves. [1], Ruellia simplex is native to Mexico, the West Indies, western Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. At this time, R. simplex is the preferred name because it has been determined that this was the name first given to this plant in 1870 when it was described in Cuba, and accordingly that name has priority. ruellia malacosperma Shrubby perennial native to Mexico. Native Range: Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico. It is been given a number of different names, including R. brittoniana, R. coerulea, R. malacosperma and R. tweediana. Excellent free-blooming plant in large containers. To explore this potential between the invasive plant species Ruellia simplex and the closely related, sympatric Ruellia caroliniensis, we conducted a study of re-productive crossability and hybrid viability. Cut back stems after flowering to encourage new flowers. When purchasing plants from a nursery, make sure you do not get the weedy non-native and invasive Britton’s Wild Petunia or Mexican Bluebell (Ruellia simplex C. Wright Synonym Ruellia brittoniana Leonard). 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