Is there anything suggested to maybe braid them? You might need to add a phosphorus-heavy fertilizer and see if that increases blooming. I have the purple ones. Is the soil well-draining? I live in florida and love these plants for the color and height they bring to any area of the yard. Place your potted cuttings in bright, indirect light, and keep them moist. I got a pot of Mexican petunia in the spring. I’ve always used my Mexican petunia as a shade plant and was surprised to see purple-stemmed ruellia on a visit to Tucson, Arizona, where it was planted in full sun. My granddaughter watered it. Tommy, I’m not sure where you are, but if you are in Florida where it is a big problem I suggest try the Florida native Wild Petunia instead. Hi Jackie – I live in Southwest Oklahoma and I absolutely LOVE my purple Mexican petunias. You can also start indoors 8 weeks before the last frost if you want to have blossoms earlier in the year. It’s that its crowding out our native plant species and harming the environment. Did you plant the ruellia or the dwarf type? They have dine great and it is so nice to have a plant that is not in everyone else’s garden! First, it could be that as your plant has grown this year, it has gotten too crowded. You also might want to use this plant to add some color to shady areas. Ours bloomed it’s first year, just beautifully. I have the purple variety bought it at Lowe’s. Thank you! I wonder if it was placed in the wrong area because I assumed it was a houseplant. My 3 daughters are preparing to plant them in their gardens this Spring! Prepare a clean four-inch pot with a mix of perlite and peat moss and moisten the mixture. And feedback would be great! So far, it seems like an excellent selection for plant borders or areas where a durable source of color is needed. Ruellia brittoniana Leonard Ruellia caerulea Morong Ruellia coerulea Morong, orth. After the frost has killed the plant….how do I care for them? A former garden editor for a daily newspaper in Austin, Texas, Gretchen Heber goes through entirely too many pruners and garden gloves in a year’s time. Hi Cathy! Diane, are your ruellia spreading too vigorously? Alba (sometimes sold as White Flower Form) produces hundreds of pure white blooms from June through September. They are almost impossible to control or eradicate, so I suggest planting them where you can keep them controlled, like in a pot. The tall version forms clumps 18 inches across, while the short type forms 12-inch clumps. You may be able to order them through a local nursery or online purveyor. I love the lacy leaves. One year after a mild winter they survived. The flowers are pretty but the plants themselves are spindly. See our TOS for more details. Very disappointed!! It is not infecting other plants. The foliage looks good. We bought a plant in NC last autumn and we divided and rooted them over the winter for outdoor planting. She picked a spot right by the steps leading to our front porch. And for more information on plants that thrive in the shade, check out these guides next: Photos by Gretchen Heber © Ask the Experts, LLC. Honeybees love them—and what’s good for the bees is good for the world. Ruellia simplex (Britton’s Wild Petunia, Desert/Mexican Petunia, Mexican Bluebell) Ruellia simplex or better known by its synonyms R. brittoniana and R. tweediana, is a delightful plant to have in one’s home garden.We got several plants in three small poly bags for a steal… really dirt cheap for just RM10. That encourages them to produce lush leaves and few or no blooms. It has produced only one bloom!That was yesterday. Is your plant crowded at all? Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the University of South Florida and other herbaria. Hello Gwynne – Dip the cut end of the cutting into a powdered rooting hormone, and place the cutting into the hole you made in the potting mix. Strip off any leaves near the bottom of the stem, and remove the bloom. Thanks to my mom that has a super green thumb these beautiful purple petunias are about 4ft tall and 6ft wide in growth. Any clue what is causing the white blotches on the leaves and how to treat? The Atlas of Florida Plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. It is a native of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. It has become a widespread invasive plant in Florida, where it was … Hummingbirds love it. It’s particularly good to get first-hand verification that they are appealing to pollinators and hummingbirds. Tough plant that takes dry or wet soil. I always enjoyed gardening with my grandparents as well, and learned so much from them. It thrives as a marginal water plant and in boggy soils. Also easy to re-root, just cut and leave in water, you have nice roots in 2 wks or so. It does not mind full morning sun but benefits from afternoon shade, particularly during the hot summer months. What’s wrong? I was wondering why I have such a lack of growth with this plant (no spreading). Anything I can do to encourage flowers? This is indeed a vigorous grower with invasive tendencies that may not be appreciated by all. I live in GA and have these beautiful flowers! Post a photo! Suggestions? However, the plant does even better in wet conditions (hello, Florida!). R. simplex doesn’t have any notable insect pest or disease concerns to worry about, either. Or do you have the regular, 1- to 2-foot tall ruellia that are looking less than fab? The Alabama Plant Atlas is a source of data for the distribution of plants within the state as well as taxonomic, conservation, invasive, and wetland information for each species. What is going on? The wild form has purple flowers, and is native to Mexico, Western South America and the Antilles. You can also propagate this plant via purchased seeds, cuttings, or division. A southwestern U.S. native shrub that produces dense masses of deep blue, almost purple, petunia-like flowers against light green foliage. They are not blooming this year but have read that they might be too crowded. It is a versatile plant that tolerates an extremely wide range of growing conditions. Ruellia Species: simplex Family: Acanthaceae Life Cycle: Perennial Recommended Propagation Strategy: Division Seed Stem Cutting Country Or Region Of Origin: Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies. Planted a couple babies in my mother in law’s garden where she wanted something beautiful and easy to care for. Keep in mind that they can get large, so you’ll need to increase the size of the container up to at least 18 inches wide and deep… Read more ». I watered them when I got them and the rain has done the rest. You can also try cutting back the stems to encourage it to start blooming once again. So much so, they have been classified as a Category I Invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Besides larger herbivores (which sometimes like to munch on these, but more often than not, they will pass them up in favor of other options), caterpillars will also eat Mexican petunias, and several species of butterflies use them as a host plant. Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful family gardening story, Martha! Ruellia simplex, or Mexican petunia, features bright trumpet-shaped blooms like its namesake, but don't look for any more similarities to the common bedding annual. Mexican petunias grow both from seed and those thick, short roots that grow sideways, called rhizomes. Sadly, each lovely flower lasts just a day. Sounds gorgeous, Rob. I am in Lake Charles, LA. However, this morning I noticed that the tops of mine were all eaten off. Mass plantings of the tall type make a nice border for the back of your beds, whereas the shorter variety makes a lovely edging plant. Deadhead them and keep pulling to keep them under control, or you may want to use them as a container specimen instead. With deep pruning in early spring, plants will be more erect and creep less. Hi Voodoo! After roots are established, you can transplant them outside. Both overwatering and underwatering can cause yellow leaves. Spread the roots out in the holes. Could be yours are needing more? I have them in a front landscape bed, in Central Arkansas. What a fabulous solution, Emily. Close × Share This Page. Doug, welcome to Gardener’s Path; we’re always happy to have new readers! Also we grow ours by the pool so the majority of the daily flowers that fall out will float in the pool and stay purple for a few hours – so pretty. I live in the Pacific Northwest and I purchased a Mexican petunia a few months ago along with several other nine inch houseplants. Sow R. simplex seeds in early spring, after all danger of frost has passed. Hahaha regarding the East Texas soil, btw. How long have your transplants been in the ground? If you don’t mind, it would be great if you’d check back in and let us know if you were able to fix… Read more ». Floridians notwithstanding, gardeners in the southern United States would do well to add this purple-blooming beauty to their gardens. They can take a few years before they start really spreading. The benefit is the native petunia will feed our native birds and bees, where the non-natives usually do not. Love this beauty. 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. ‘Chi Chi’ is a popular pink cultivar often found at plant centers. I now have a massive border of my own that blooms continually spring through late fall in the South Central Texas sunshine. Product photos via liveplantflower, SVI, andlvrgarden. Now that I know they can live in shade, I’m going to dig them up and move them to the shade garden I’m putting in! I cannot say I am an expert on elephant ears, but a bit of quick research indicates that these plants are heavy feeders and like rich soil. It’s an erect, often-multi-stemmed plant with dark green, droopy, slender, and long leaves. The ruellia is actually easy to pull out now. Hi – I’m not sure I like this plant. Often confused with Ruellia tweediana, but its leaves are a bit shorter and wider. Please help they have taken over the front and side yard. Thanks so much for sharing your positive experience with Mexican petunias! If so, you can encourage it to bloom by dividing or thinning it. While most standard forms of Mexican petunia range in height from 18 to 36 inches, ‘Katie’s Dwarf’ ranges from eight to 12 inches tall. We grow these in west central Ohio. And I feel like the sun was probably okay, since they’re not particular about that, but it shouldn’t hurt them to be in a sunnier spot, either. They bloomed all last year. Fertilizer formulas such as this one that contain more nitrogen (N) than phosphorus and potassium (P and K) can lead to lush, leafy growth with few flowers. Other times they have died. Great to know, Elise! Ruellia malacosperma Greenm. Is Ruellia Invasive? They are in the ground. I live in NC. Gretchen, Hi Tommy – They’re very drought tolerant. I am hoping this is an easy fix. For this reason consider growing a sterile cultivar such as Ruellia simplex cv. Are you in the pro- or anti-ruellia camp? Are they planted in the ground or in containers? This year there are no blooms. Hi Deb…. Plant database entry for Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex 'Southern Star Blue') with one image and 35 data details. Hi bbkahlich! COPYRIGHT © 2020 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. At the same height. Love my Mexican petunias but the leaves are turning yellow. Like daylilies, they only bloom once a day, but continuously bloom … I bet they’re beautiful, Ismael. Can you see any bite marks or small holes on what remains of the plants? GARDENER'S PATH® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Agreed, which is why it is classified as a Category I Invasive plant in Florida. There are commercial weed killers available, but I would be nervous using those near the ruellia. Does it need fertilizer? So to get them under control you’ll need a three-part approach: Pull up as many as you can. They bloomed the same week that I transplanted them, so definitely hardy!! Hi. I know… can you believe our crazy weather? While it is tempting to assume you have a case of powdery mildew, and recommend treatment with a fungicide, it may not be fungus at all. So far I’ve been hand pulling the ones in the lawn. Thank you! While it’s best to transplant in the fall, you may move it now if necessary. It has become a widespread invasive plant in Florida, where it was likely introduced as an ornamental before 1933. Expect it to take some time to bounce back. Found out they are invasive. Yes, you can absoultely grow Mexican petunias as an annual in northern regions, even from seed, as long as you have 3 good months of frost-free weather (as zones 4 and 5 do) and a spot in full sun. Thanks, I’m glad you shared that photo, which allows me to see those white spots are probably not powdery mildew and don’t need a fungicide. Lastly, maybe even grown in pots in the ground and moved indoors before frosts? It had a tag saying plant outdoors but move it indoors over the winter. With a sharp, clean blade, cut a healthy-looking stem just below a node, four to six inches from the end. Yes they spread but I love how they show up in the craziest places. It can be quite a challenge! Thanks for passing along the positive response. I broke off a few sprigs from a neighbor’s stand of Mexican petunia about 20 years ago and rooted them in water. I am new to your site. I have a beautiful field of elephant ears. Can I plant these in them here? 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. I happily yank and transplant often and they are so hardy. It does not mind full morning sun but benefits from afternoon shade, particularly during the hot summer months. Now it only produces white flowers any suggestions on how to help it bring back the purple flowers? I have had this plant for many years and it is beautiful. Excellent annual flowering plant for areas where it is not winter hardy. They should come back in the spring. The wild types and cultivated forms have high female fertility and fruiting by self-pollination, and seeds have high germination rates. Just as a precaution, if you do have stems without the white spots, I would propagate a few since it’s… Read more ». They are not closely related to petunias (Petunia) although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade.The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle, herbalist and physician to Francis I of France and translator of several works of Dioscorides. Is it a blight? We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Yes, they do bloom a lot, don’t they! A notable and popular cultivar differs from the straight species in its height. I have kept it in a large pot on my sunny back patio. Soil low in phosphorus, in particular, can cause plants to not bloom. The pot gets a good 6 hours of sun a day? It’s in full sun. I want to keep it alive! Is anyone gonna mention that invasive plants are harmful to our ecosystem? Be sure to keep the soil moist. Thanks. I’m in a subdivision so I doubt a deer wandered in. Barbi, please encourage your homeowners to plant something native instead, it will help our local birds, bees and insects. For USDA Zones 8-10, it may be effectively grown in bog gardens, as a pond marginal, and in beds and borders. Or they’re just not spreading? If this is the case, unfortunately you won’t be able to make them revert back to purple.… Read more », We moved to SW FL from Northern California with its red rocky soil going on 2 years ago. My neighbor brought this Ruella from South America. Keep reading to learn more about growing ruellia. It will not spread by runners, but does spread by seed. Nice of your neighbor to share; maybe you can pay it forward when you do your pruning! We are fortunate to have a beautiful array of them in a small patch of dirt outside our apartment in Dallas that is maintained by a lawn crew. Do you know what this is? Mine did very well blooming the first 2 years so guess they are crowded so will thin them next spring. Sounds beautiful! This non-indigenous species has escaped cultivation and is highly invasive in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and 9 states including Florida. There, like a septuagenarian Minnesotan in January, it has populated freely, and the locals RUE(llia) the day it was introduced. I cut them down to about 6 inches above ground after the first freeze. Heat and drought tolerant. It’s a nightmare. Do NOT BUY AND PLANT this crap in your yard, it spreads, its taken over almost half my backyard. Ruellia simplex (Britton's wild petunia, Mexican petunia, Mexican bluebell) is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. They just look straggly. More to love! Commonly known as the Mexican petunia, the ruellia is an herbaceous perennial shrub with highly invasive tendencies. Did your plants just not shoot up at all? No worries! No flowers, but the leaves are fine. My favorite plant!!! I live in southern Ohio and purchased this at Home Depot. It doesn’t seem to have worked the first time around (sorry about that!). Butterflies like it too – it attracts swallowtail, brush-footed, and monarch butterflies eager to enjoy the flowers’ nectar. A plant that is moved during the growing season experiences more shock than one that is moved as it’s going into winter dormancy. It’s especially loved for its papery, trumpet-shaped flowers that mimic every shade of the purple rainbow, as well as white and pink. Hello Gretchen. Now it’s very sandy soil and I think nutrient poor. To me, that makes it so you don’t have to worry as much when you decide to prune or transplant, since you can always take some cuttings first and have them as a backup if anything goes wrong. Florida. I also live in Dallas. The side of caution, because you ’ re always happy to have worked the first time around sorry! Than what your local stores carry disease concerns to worry about, either but move it now necessary! Sharing your positive experience with this pretty plant in Florida and love these plants, LaJuana cover... Of mine were all eaten off ’ ve had them about 45 days and no i have had these for... Can excise the metastasizing plants inches across, while the short type forms 12-inch.. Though, are they young kids or adults site, however you to... 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