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Ruellia brittoniana , more unremarkably known asMexican Petuniabelongs to the Acanthaceae family and Ruellia genus .
As the name suggest , this plant is aboriginal to Mexico .
Photo Credit: Instagram @gardenup.rv
However , it is also found extravagantly in the Caribbean and South America .
Over the eld , the plant life has been known by multiple names , including Ruellia angustifolia ( Nees ) Lindau , and Cryphiacanthus angustifolius Nees , among others .
Several common names include :
Today , the most widely accepted name for this species let in Ruellia brittoniana and Ruellia simplex .
However , most people favour to call it Mexican petunia . But itis not a petunia .
Two other varieties with variegation areRuellia Makoyanaand Ruellia portellae .
Photo Credit: Instagram @gardenup.rv
It ’s an evergreen plant perennial bang for its flowers and being cervid tolerant .
These plants typically shape colonies of stalks with lance - shaped leaves .
While the leafage is attractive , it ’s the Petunia bloom that steals the show for this plant .
Other plants from the family Acanthaceae :
Ruellia Brittoniana Quick Care Tips
Mexican Petunia Care
Size and Growth
This low shrub has a dark purple cast and dark immature leaves .
Mexican petunia plants have a fast maturation rate , quickly reaching 3′ -6′ foot tall and the same in diameter .
Keep in mind that while regal babe showers may not be full , the plant becomes lush with age and from clop colonies .
Owing to its fast - grow nature , it is considered to be invasive .
short letter : Although it is list as an invasive species , we ’ve produce them for years in the state of Florida landscape and never experienced the plants getting out of hand .
The leaves of this flora can stretch up to 12 ” inch . However , when grown in dry conditions , the leave of absence commonly stay short .
Flowering and Fragrance
The petunia ruellia is a flowering plant with lovely petunia flowers , usually lilac-colored in color .
Each genus Petunia - like peak live about one mean solar day , but the flowering season is well foresighted , lasting from other summer to fall .
Moreover , the trump - shaped flowers grow in abundance .
Neither the bloom nor the plant itself has a classifiable fragrance . Nonetheless , it does manage to attract bees , butterfly , and even hummingbirds to the garden .
Light and Temperature
purplish shower hump full sun but grow well in partial shade . The more sunshine they find , the more prime they acquire .
They also grow well in places where they have lustrous , indirect light and choose high heating .
It thrives in temperatures between 72 ° and 76 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
These works enjoy summertime heat and even survive a drought in warm climates .
However , they do n’t do well in the coldness . As temperatures commence to fell , it is best to move Mexican petunia out of the direction of the cold and chilly winter breeze .
Ruellia is recommend for USDA hardiness zones 8 - 11 .
Watering and Feeding
Mexican petunia plant is very stalwart and able-bodied to make it drought and flooding . Once base , this plant becomes drought - tolerant .
The honest approaching is to water just enough to keep the grunge consistently moist .
While these flora are sturdy and can go without weewee for a long time , young petunia ruellia simplex want veritable lacrimation .
During the colder month of the year , refrain from overwatering and only cockeyed when the soil is visibly dry .
empurpled ruellia plants also prosper in humidity , making them broad of frequent rains and boggy soil conditions .
These plants grow well without an extra boost of fertiliser . If you still want to feed your plants , a tablespoon of 10 - 10 - 10 fertiliser is enough .
Scatter the fertilizer around the plant during the unfolding time of year .
Soil and Transplanting
Once install , these plant thrive and brandish in almost any type of stain .
For optimal arise conditions , use well - draining , productive soil . Also , regard the pH level of the filth .
These plant tolerate alkalinity but unremarkably do great in impersonal or slightly acidulent territory .
graft during early spring when the temperature is warm enough to take into account the industrial plant to reconcile and grow .
Grooming and Maintenance
Under the correct shape , these plant are reasonably ego - sufficient and do not require much additional guardianship .
Since they are invasive , it is best to keep an eye on the outgrowth .
bank bill : Mexican Petunia diffuse freely by rhizome . keep command by pick out non - trespassing cultivars .
If you palpate that these purple flowers are taking over your garden , pull out some of the stalk .
This plant is often rambunctious .
Make certain to crop on a regular basis to keep plant in shape and keep an likeable show . Also , do n’t bury to clip the glow or damage parting .
Dwarf Ruellia ‘ Katie ’ has beautiful bloom along with easy care , and that is why Texas A&M University named it aTexas Superstar .
How to Propagate Petunia
This plant can ego - source aggressively .
During the showery time of year or when hose down with water , the seeds can be squirt up to 10′ substructure out .
It spread well on its own through seeds started in pots . These plants also propagate through cuttings .
If you ca n’t have enough of the lovely violet flower , cut the stem midway down just below a guest once the flowering time of year finish . Then duck the stinger end into the rout hormone .
The plant life will replace the lost stem by growing multiple stems and flowers !
Mexican petunia can also be propagated via rhizome division . All you need to do is mildly travail around the plant , loosening the soil . Then , slice up through the rhizomes using a shovel to produce multiple freestanding plants .
Mexican Petunia Pest or Diseases
Mexican petunia unremarkably does not see any serious problems . However , insensate weather can damage the plant , plough the leaves brown .
The only way to avoid this from happen is to protect the plant from insensate . If the temperature is low enough to cause frosting , move the plant indoors ( if possible ) to a warmer spot .
Although it is not common for this works to get infect , the Mexican petunia blossom is susceptible to wanderer hint and whitefly .
Spray a safe - quality insecticide or a soap result on the foliage to get rid of wanderer mites . Keep the problem under mastery by clip the septic leaves , flush , and stems .
Suggested Mexican Petunia Uses
The Mexican petunia is a beautiful works bearing lovely flowers growing in full sun or partial shade . However , this spreading repeated is invasive and banned in some state .
In fact , R. brittoniana spread by rootstalk and is ego - seeding . It has become naturalize in South Carolina , Texas , and Hawaii . [ informant ]
If you are worried about Mexican petunia taking over your yard , it is a good idea to get an sterile plant life , which is ineffective to ego - seed , from a nursery .
This is aplant that attracts butterflies , take a leak good margin plant life or terra firma cover , and add wintertime interest when growing in South Florida .
