Ruellia Simplex
Beloved by many gardeners for its heat tolerance and shade - loving nature , but reviled by others for its eagerness to spread with abandon , R. simplexcan be divisive .
Thanks to its scented imperial prime , however , we come down firmly on the pro - ruellia side of the debate .
With forms marvellous and myopic , this evergreen plant , herbaceous perennial – worthy for cultivator inUSDA Hardiness Zones8 to 11 – deserves consideration for inclusion in southerly gardens .
Ruellia simplex can be grown in either the shade or full sun, and is great for edging or mass plantings.
The marvellous translation forms bunch up 18 inches across , while the short type form 12 - inch clumps .
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It ’s an erect , often - multi - cauline plant with sinister light-green , droopy , supple , and longsighted leave .
Ruellia simplex can be grown in either the shade or full sun, and is great for edging or mass plantings.
It ’s especially loved for its papery , cornet - shaped flowers that mimic every shade of the purple rainbow , as well as whitened and pink .
Sadly , each lovely blossom last just a Clarence Day . But fret not – the industrial plant produces a succession of profuse two - inch flowers day by day from outpouring through downfall .
Let ’s hear more about this endearing but factious plant , and why Floridians want nothing to do with it ! Here ’s what we ’ll tackle in this clause :
What You’ll Learn
If you survive in Florida , you ’re for sure apologize from learn this clause , though you might want to check below for a cultivar that is dependable to produce in your region .
Or perhaps you ’d like tolearn about growing Curcuma longa , which also does quite well in the Sunshine State .
Interestingly , the stem of this industrial plant becomes more purple when it ’s in promising brightness , as opposed to when it ’s grow in a shady area , where the radical stays fairly green .
I ’ve always used my Mexican petunia as a spook plant and was surprised to see purple - stem ruellia on a sojourn to Tucson , Arizona , where it wasplanted in full sun .
Cultivation and History
As with so many of our favorite botanical , this one comes with a horde of alias .
Though not close relatedto petunias , many sleep together the industrial plant as Britton ’s wild , Texas petunia , or sometimes even Mexican Campanula rotundifolia .
Scientifically , it ’s been labeledR. brittoniana , R. coerulea , R. malacosperma , andR. tweediana , though today ’s taxonomist are in correspondence thatR. simplexis the correct moniker .
The plant is native to Mexico and South America , and has naturalize in Hawaii and from South Carolina to Texas , where nurseryman appreciate it greatly .
Butterflies like it too – it pull in swallowtail , brush - footed , andmonarch butterflieseager to enjoy the flowers ’ nectar .
However , as allude to above , it is regard encroaching in Florida .
There , like a septuagenarian Minnesotan in January , it has populated freely , and the locals RUE(llia ) the 24-hour interval it was preface .
It has a inclination to push out aboriginal Florida species , and so local plantsman powerfully monish against its use .
The flora is named for Jean de la Ruelle , a belated 15th- to other 16th - century Gallic herbalist and physician to King Francois .
Propagation
Mexican petunia spread naturally by both seeds – it can spue the small brown discs as far as ten feet – and rhizomes .
you may also circularize this industrial plant via purchased seeds , cutting , or division .
From Seed
SowR. simplexseeds in early spring , after all danger of frost has pass . Plant one to two seeds for each anticipate plant , spaced 12 inches apart .
From Cuttings
If you desire even more plants – in a different part of the yard , for example – you may spread by taking cutting off in springtime .
With a piercing , clean blade , cut a respectable - look stem just below a node , four to six inches from the end . Strip off any leaves near the bottom of the stem , and remove the bloom .
ready a clean four - inch stack with a commixture of perlite andpeat mossand wash the mixed bag . Make a two - column inch - mystifying hole in the potting mix with a pencil .
Dip the cut death of the cutting off into a powdered rooting hormone , and place the cutting into the hole you made in the potting mix .
Place your potted cuttings in vivid , collateral light , and keep them moist . After roots are found , you could transfer them outside .
Division
To split up this plant , loosen the soil around the country , and then dig around the cluster you wish to excise .
Lift out the clod and , using a shovel , slice the crown of the industrial plant into several pieces .
Place your transplant into holes the same deepness as the antecedent balls of your clumps and doubly as wide . circulate the roots out in the holes .
Cover the antecedent with dirt and water good ; retain to water well for several calendar week until well - established .
Get more details about dividing perennial here .
How to Grow
Mexican petunia is generally extremely value as a shade plant , but if your summers are n’t too brutal , the plant may be able to take full sun .
It is drouth tolerant , and in fact , throughout our brute Central Texas summers , I give mine nary a drop of supplemental water and they do just ticket .
However , the plant does even well in wet conditions ( hello , Florida ! ) .
As with most plant , you ’ll want to treat them to regular , abstruse waterings forthwith after transplantation , which you ’ll do in springtime , and then you could back off the watering if you like .
you could baby the flora with rich compost or you could stick in the native dirt that ’s already there , and it will still do fine .
fertilise with a 10 - 10 - 10 ( NPK ) mixture in spring . Or do n’t . See a composition here ?
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
dress out any stagnant leaves and remove dead bloom for aesthetic purpose . Cut off the seed seedcase if you do n’t want the plant to distribute its seeds .
you could dry out and save them for found elsewhere if you bid , or trade with the neighbors .
Of of course , if yourR. simplexspreads too far and all-encompassing , you’re able to excise the metastasizing plant .
Cultivars to Select
Several cultivars are useable , with the tell characteristic typically being flower color .
Ruellia Rooted Live Plants via Amazon
A renowned and pop cultivar differ from the straight species in its tallness .
While most standard forms of Mexican petunia mountain chain in height from 18 to 36 inches , ‘ Katie ’s Dwarf ’ range from eight to 12 inches magniloquent .
This potpourri is less aggressive than its taller cousins , though mine unquestionably spreads .
‘ Chi Chi ’ is a pop pink cultivar often launch at flora centers .
Southern Star ‘ garden pink ’ features soft , faint pinkish flowers with non-white centers . This is a midget variety , top out out at 10 to 12 inches marvelous .
Southern Star ‘ Pink ’
you could find software package of 30 seedsavailable via Walmart .
And if white is more your style , Southern Star ‘ White ’ is another dwarf cultivar that makes a delightful ground cover .
Southern Star ‘ White ’
Walmart carriespackets of 30 seeds .
Floridians , if you ’re still with us , you should choose the cultivar ‘ Purple Showers , ’ which is unfertile and does not create seed .
It can still spread via rhizomes , however .
Managing Pests and Diseases
It ’s not on the bill of fare for deer , but if these elegant herbivores are help themselves to other plant in your garden , check out this article about protecting your plants .
R. simplexdoesn’t have any noteworthy worm pest or disease concerns to worry about , either .
Best Uses
Mass planting of the marvelous type make a nice mete for the back of your beds , whereas the short variety get a lovely edge plant .
You also might need to employ this industrial plant to tally some colour to shady area .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Purple Power
Floridian notwithstanding , gardeners in the southerly United States would do well to add this empurpled - blossom beauty to their gardens .
A lovely tall plant for the back of a bed , or a fairly edging for the front — one species , two virtual uses .
Virtually maintenance - free and pest - free , and requiring scarcely any attention , R. simplexis a lovely summation to any garden .
And for more information on plants thatthrive in the shade , check out these guidebook next :
photo by Gretchen Heber © postulate the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more contingent . in the beginning put out May 21st , 2019 . Last updated April 20th , 2023 . Product pic via Amazon and Little Nest . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra writing and editing by Allison Sidhu and Clare Groom .
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