Friday, April 19, 2013

Wild Petunia Featured Plant of The Day


Ruellia caroliniensis
    Wild Petunia

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6B to 10A
Height    6" to 12" / 15cm to 30cm
Spread    12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full shade to partial sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and purple
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought and occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in dry to moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Culture Notes
Wild Petunia is a native wildflower found throughout the eastern part of the United States' woodlands.  They spread and are known as strong growers under adverse conditions.  Wild Petunia has light green leaves that are medium in texture.  Blue or violet flowers appear on this perennial in the spring, summer and fall.  These flowers are showy, and their nectar is appealing to various species of butterflies.

Wild Petunia may be used as flowering ground cover and in front of perennial borders.  They are attractive when massed together or planted in a container where flexible stems droop over the pot.  They would make an attractive hanging basket.

Place Ruellia in an area of the landscape that receives full to partial shade.  These species will grow best in well-drained soils and are very drought tolerant.  If Ruellia is frozen to the ground in the winter, regrowth should occur from the roots.

These plants may be propagated by seed or cuttings.  Ruellia can spread, as it readily reseeds itself. These plants bloom profusely, especially in the spring and fall.

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