Ruellia simplex

softseed wild petunia, britton's wild petunia. mexican petunia
Family

Acanthaceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite, decussate

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

entire, undulate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

linear, lanceolate, elongate

Growth Form

forb, shrub

Flower Color

blue, purple, white

Flower Month

September - October

Height (meters)

0.3 - 1.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

introduced

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

FACU

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

0

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

-1

Field Characters

Bracts of the loose cymes linear, leaves linear-elongate, foilage not hairy.

Cultural Information

This plant readily reseeds and spreads by rhizomes. It is easily propagated but is not native and should not be included in restoration or native plantings. It is frost intolerant and temperature limits its range. It can become weedy and should be avoided even as a garden perennial. There are several cultivars of this species including dwarfs and pink and white flowered varieties. Seeds average approximately 378,000/lb.

Natural History

Ruellia simplex is widely cultivated and naturalized in the Southern United States from Texas to Florida. Its range is limited to semitropical climates. The genus Ruellia was named for the French physician and botanist who lived from 1474 to 1537.