The combination of the pink flowers, grass-like texture, and green foliage make it a perfect filler to add color and interest to barren, dry area in the yard. The dwarf form does not appeal to me because it appears messy and dirty once in bloom for a few weeks. Risk Free Money Back Guarantee. stans, Bougainvillea, and many others with complementary flower colors for a tropical Pruning: Prune to shape anytime. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Borne solitary or in clusters at the tips of purplish stems, they rise above the foliage of lance-shaped, glossy green leaves. Acanthaceae : Form: Shrub Seasonality: Evergreen. Thanks to their compact form, these Pink Ruellias are an excellent choice for use as a groundcover in tighter, narrower spaces and they also look great when planted in pots or planters! It grows about 4ft. They have a moderate growth rate, and with regular feeding of fertilizer, they will have the best development. Leaves are dark green, opposite, lanceolate, 2" to 3" long, 3/4" wide. Ruellia brittoniana or Mexican petunia is beautiful but can be invasive. 7027. axillary peduncles. Form & Character: Mostly herbaceous perennial shrub, dark Other common names are Desert Petunia and Baja Ruellia. Ideal for mass planting, borders and sunny slopes Katie Ruellia or Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie,' is an improved variety and able to bloom beautiful pink or purple flowers almost all year long. neutral soils. I very much like the tall form. Fruits are inconspicuous brown achenes; however fruits eject seeds up to 10 feet from the plant when sprayed with a hose, or rained upon (sounds like Rice Krispies when first doused with milk). Works well with Spanish Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, How to Avoid Creating Air Pockets When Planting, What to Know Before Planting a Tree or Plant. Shrubby upright perennial with purple blooms. Unlike desert petunia (Ruellia brittoniana), a closely related species, desert ruellia does not readily spread or self-seed. petioles to 3/4 inch long; medium texture. 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. This species is non-invasive, unlike Ruellia brittoniana, a moderate water plant with long, glossy leaves. Except for dwarf cultivars, often headed back severely to the ground in Dwarf Katie Ruellia. Growth Habit: Shrubby and unruly, quick to establish and grow to 3 to 6 feet with Look for selections that offer pink or white flowers. Seasonal color: Deep purple foliage is colorful year round. 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! Ruellia is an easy to grow Mexican and southwestern U.S. native that’s covered in purple petunia-like flowers from spring through fall complementing its dark green foliage beautifully. The Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’ is a dwarf horticultural selection that grows only 12–15″ high, works well as a groundcover and is very well behaved in the landscape. MONDAY-SATURDAY 7:30AM-5PM SUNDAY 9AM - 5PM. The wild form has purple flowers, and is native to Mexico, Western South America and the Antilles. Other varieties we carry are 'Chi Chi', with pink blooms and 'Katie' which is dwarf. Katie' is dwarf 10 to 12 inches tall, with violet flowers. winter. ('Chi Chi') and white ('Alba') flowering cultivars are available. Once established, they require little to moderate water use and these are also low-maintenance plants, so they can blossom with little care. Makes an excellent addition to mixed containers or in the garden and unlike other Mexican Petunias it won't take over your garden via numerous unwanted seedlings but it does spread rhizomatously. Densely packed foliage makes this mounding groundcover shrub look and feel lush. Landscape Use: Foliar and floral accent and/or filler shrub for landscape Ruellia brittoniana (Mexican Petunia) Ruellia brittoniana (Mexican Petunia) is a shrubby perennial boasting a profusion of petunia-like, vibrant lavender-blue flowers, 2 in. They are inexpensive, low … Additional comments: Escaped from cultivation in SE US. The large, petunia-like blooms are backed by dense clumps of narrow, dark green foliage. SKU. Ruellia peninsularis. 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. In flood irrigated landscapes, this shrub might become invasive. 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 Their scientific name is Ruellia Brittoniana. Native of Mexico. Moon Valley Nurseries Katie Ruellia details and information. This low growing, shrubby perennial blooms pink, purple, or white flowers. Quickly fills in as a ground cover. Flowers are dark purple, bell-shaped, with five shallow lobes, 2" long. This plant can be trimmed to … Mexican petunias (Ruellia brittoniana) are considered invasive plants in some areas since they easily spread seed and grow. Katie Ruellia is a low water use plant, and are drought tolerant with little to moderate watering needs once established. Flowers & fruits: Flowers terminal on elongated, Dwarf pink The Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is a beautiful addition to a flowering backyard retreat. Versatile shrub for use in mesic and oasis landscape design themes. This is zone 9A. Dwarf Purple Ruellia or Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’ was so named after Katie Ferguson, who first discovered this dwarf specie by chance growing in her nursery at Conroe, Texas. As a bonus, these are a non-invasive variety, so they are also suitable for mass planting. Towards the end of its semi-woody branches, violet purple, terminal flowers are … All Rights Reserved. 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. Thrives with regular and frequent irrigations All trees and plants need Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash (Potassium) as the primary nutrients for healthy... Plant and tree growth cycles are regulated by environmental signals. Foliage/texture: Leaves elongate-linear to 12 inches, much shorted if plants are grown in dry site, entire to undulate, I have grown both the dwarf and tall forms of Ruellia brittoniana here in the Sonora Desert of southern Arizona. Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie' SKU. equal spread. Mexican Petunia – Ruellia brittoniana On the Mexican petunia, lavender-blue flowers present themselves in mid-spring and continuously emerge until the cold weather arrives. The natural shape of desert ruellia is softly rounded, so pruning more than once a year is seldom needed. FOR SALE - Yuma, AZ - There are two of these plants. Because pruning encourages more blooms, some experts, such as those at the University of Florida Nassau County Extension, do not recommend pruning Mexican petunias. across (5 cm), from midsummer to fall. Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is a low-growing evergreen shrub with long leaves and blue or purple petunia-like flowers. Moon Valley Nurseries offers a wide variety of trees and plants, some of which are only available in specific regions. Popular cultivar ' Its growth habit is much different than its parent plant, however. Ruellia brittoniana Katie aka Katie's Dwarf Ruellia. Ruellia 'Chi Chi' is a dynamite ruellia discovered in Texas...a seedling selection of Ruellia brittoniana from plant guru Scott Ogden. Watering: This shrub is very responsive to landscape irrigation. Soil: Tolerant of some alkalinity, but prefers acidic to It was introduced to Florida in the 1940s. Works well with Tecoma Flowers terminal on elongated, Characteristics: Ruellia brittoniana is a small to medium sized evergreen perennial with an upright, spreading growth habit. Thank goodness, these dwarf ruellias have travelled far and wide … protection from west summer exposures when young. In Phoenix, purple, white, or pink, Height 3 to 4ft. This attractive heat-tolerant dwarf variety forms a rounded-mound of narrow arching dark-green leaves and is accented with showy butterfly-attracting petunia-like violet-blue flowers appearing throughout the warmer months. The genus is named after French botanist Jean Ruel, while the specific name refers to the simple, not compound leaves. especially during summer. Desert Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) is a medium-sized shrub with light green foliage and purple flowers that appear spring through fall. Flower Color is Purple/Lavender and blooms in Summer. USDA Zone? We like this dwarf variety because they feature low, spreading mounds of narrow, dark green foliage. Brittish Ruellia is a fast growing upright evergreen. Ruellia 'Chi Chi' has performed well in both moist and dry conditions. They are 10.00 each. flowers are produced in all but coldest but winter. Katie Ruellia or Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie,' is an improved variety and able to bloom beautiful pink or purple flowers almost all year long. We like this dwarf variety because they feature low, spreading mounds of narrow, dark green foliage. There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. This plant is a member of the Acanthus family (Acanthaceae) and is related to Mexican Honeysuckle. Ruellia Pink 'Chi Chi' thrive in full sun or light shade exposures and have a moderate growth rate. Best used with drip irrigation. More information. axillary peduncles, corolla to 1.5 inches long, tube about 0.5 inches across, expanded Also known as the Mexican Petunia, ‘katie’ is a smaller variety of Ruellia. Becomes lush and full with age. Learn more about Moon Valley Nurseries plants and best practices for outstanding plant performance. Sunset 12-24 At Moon Valley Nurseries, we are the growers so that we can assure the quality of all our trees, shrubs and other plants are the best-looking and healthiest ones in all of the Southwest! Fruits are inconspicuous brown achenes; however fruits eject seeds up to 10 feet from the plant when sprayed with a hose, or rained upon (sounds like Rice Krispies when first doused with milk). We love mass planting them as a colorful ground cover, especially in tight and narrow spaces. USDA Zone? Seasonal color: Deep purple foliage is colorful year round. Pronounciation: Ru-EL-lee-a brit-toe-nee-A-na, Hardiness zones The narrow, dark green foliage clothes the 2' tall stem, topped with 1" pink petunia-like flowers, from early summer through fall. So, what is ruellia and can this Mexican native be cultivated in our own home garden landscape? Ruellia ‘Purple Showers’ is a stalk-like plant that has long, skinny leaves. It does best with light shade in Phoenix. Grows in Sun to Light Shade. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Easy to care for and great for use as coverage, ruellia plants offer unique beauty to landscape areas. Form: Evergreen shrub Seasonality: Perennial Size: 3 feet high by 3 feet wide Flowers: Soft pink bell shaped with 5 shallow lobes (July, August, September) Leaves: Opposite, narrow dark green leaves, flaring; 1/2 inch wide by 3 inches long Fruit: Seed Stems/Trunks; Green, erect, turning woody Taxonomy and synonyms. There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. Copyright © 2020 Moon Valley Nurseries. Drip irrigation is absolutely required here so invasiveness has not been a problem. Ruellia flowers attract bees. Mexican Petunia, Chi Chi. Keep reading to learn more about growing ruellia. This shrub is a great alternative for Texas Sage because it … JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Ruellia simplex can be grown in either the shade or full sun, and is great for edging or mass plantings. Ruellia Ruellia brittoniana. architecture. Like its namesake, Mexican petunia blossoms are quite similar to the annual, petunia, but the two are unrelated. 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 . Note: may be sold as R. brittoniana 'Katie'. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden . Be the first to review this product. Baja Ruellia. Long bloom season, showy flowers and a variety of uses make Katie Ruellia pink a welcome addition to any landscape. purple cast, succulent appearance, tropical. Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie Purple’ Spectacular dwarf variety of this easy to grow, heat-tolerant perennial is loaded with purple flowers through out the warm season. Katie Ruellia grows very well in full to part sun and performs wonderfully in all landscapes. Spreads to form clumping colonies by underground rhizomes. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a beautiful garden . Both of these are commonly found in purple, but you may also find white or pink varieties. Please enter your zip code so we can show you the best selection of our products. It does very well in wet areas. borders, even streetscapes. 9776. Baja Ruellia . tall and blooms a purple flower all year long. landscape feel. Dwarf ruellia, as the name suggests, is a dwarf version of the classic Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana). Ruellia peninsularis . The Furst liquid technologies that... What if we told you that our designers could help you increase your home's value by over 28% ? Purple flowers on and off. Avoid the temptation to prune this shrub formally into a rounded shape — it has a naturally attractive shape. Our nursery pros will be glad to help you select the perfect fertilizer for treating your dense soil. Temperature: Freeze intolerant, but heat loving, except for dwarf cultivars which might need some Ruellia flowers attract bees. above, lobes rounded, flower colors are mostly violet purple, but also white or pink. Be the first to review this product. 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. Moon Valley Nurseries has the ideal fertilizers available at our nurseries. Moon Valley Nurseries has a great selection of Katie Ruellia that are grown only from our best specimens. Ruellia brittoniana 'chi chi' Acanthaceae . USDA 8 (freeze damage), 9-11. 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. Its lanceolate leaves are dark green, serrated, and medium in texture. Dwarf ruellia maxes out at a mature height of about 12 inches and no more than a foot wide. We also like to plant them in borders or on a sunny slope. This Ruellia variety thrives in full sun or partial shade exposures and is durable and easy to care for plants. Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. For those that desire a neat and tidy appearance, remove the old foliage before the new leaves emerge. Description. Hardiness zone 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b. Kate Blue Dwarf Ruellia Moderate-growing herbaceous perennial with a compact growth habit to 10-12″ tall x 18-24″ wide. Ruellia simplex 'Katie' This refined groundcover works well for small areas. 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. Dark purple, bell-shaped, with pink blooms and 'Katie ' which is 10. This species is non-invasive, unlike Ruellia brittoniana ) is a dwarf version of the classic Mexican petunia blossoms quite! Will have the best development to plant them in borders or on a sunny slope desert... 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