Is Mexican petunia the same as Ruellia?

At first glance, you might mistake Mexican petunias for common garden flowers. But Mexican petunias are actually Ruellia simplex, fast-growing perennials with green to purple stems and green leaves.

Do Mexican petunias come back every year?

Answer: Mexican petunia is considered an herbaceous perennial, which means it freezes to the ground if it gets too cold and grows back from the base. It is summer flowering so the flowers develop on new growth. Flowers will develop on from older wood as well as from new growth at the bottom.

Does Katie ruellia spread?

Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’ An improved dwarf variety that continues to bloom summer-long, without deadheading! Large lavender-blue flowers are backed by low, spreading mounds narrow, dark green foliage. This tough, heat-loving perennial is disease and insect resistant.

Will Mexican petunia spread?

Mexican petunia spreads naturally by both seeds – it can spew the small brown discs as far as ten feet – and rhizomes. Photo by Gretchen Heber. You can also propagate this plant via purchased seeds, cuttings, or division.

Is Mexican petunia invasive in Florida?

The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council lists Mexican petunia (wild-type and non-sterile cultivars) as a Category 1 invasive species, meaning that it is “altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives” (Florida Exotic Pest …

Should you cut back Mexican petunias?

In general, the only pruning a Mexican petunia requires is an annual pruning in late winter or early spring to remove damaged, weak or otherwise undesirable stems back to the base of the plant. Cutting back spent flower stalks during the blooming period helps maintain a neat appearance.

Should I cut back my Mexican petunia?

What do you do with Mexican petunias in the winter?

Overwintering Mexican petunia is very easy, though they are perennial plants they do not produce flowers in the winter and like to go dormant. If you have planted it in the pot, you can simply winterize them by Snipping off its leaves and cutting branches.

How tall does Katie ruellia get?

“The dwarf, less–aggressive version of the species is Katie dwarf Ruellia (sometimes called Nolan’s dwarf). About 6 inches in height, it works nicely in an informal front–of–the–border grouping or as a groundcover in narrow spaces,” said Mackay.

Is Katie ruellia perennial?

Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie Pink’ Spectacular dwarf variety of this easy to grow, heat-tolerant perennial is loaded with light pink flowers through out the warm season. The large, petunia-like blooms are backed by dense clumps of narrow, dark green foliage.

How tall does Mexican petunia get?

3 feet
Mexican-petunia is a perennial in zones 8 to 11 that stands up to 3 feet in height. Stems are green or purple and leaves are dark green, oppositely arranged and lance-shaped, roughly 6 to 12 inches long and ½ to ¾ inches wide.

How do you keep Mexican petunias from spreading?

There are a few ways to control Mexican petunias from overtaking other areas. Push wood planks around the plant about 6 inches deep to slow down and control the spread of the plant. Plant a larger Mexican petunia in a pot and sink it into an established garden.

Where to buy Mexican petunia?

Buy Mexican Petunia for Sale Online | Garden Goods Direct. Posted: (4 days ago) Buy Mexican Petunia Plants for Sale Online Mexican Petunia is a herbaceous perennial known for its vibrant violet-blue blooms and dark-green slender foliage. Native to Mexico and western South America, this tropical plant has a shade-loving nature and is fairly heat

Where to buy Mexican petunias?

Buy Mexican Petunia Plants for Sale Online Mexican Petunia is most commonly known as a herbaceous perennial, but it has quickly become a popular houseplant. This plant is known for its vibrant violet-blue blooms and dark-green, slender foliage. Native to Mexico and western South Africa, this plant loves warm locations outside and inside.

Do Mexican petunias need full sun?

Mexican petunias love sunshine and will thrive in full sun. They also grow quite well in partially shaded areas, but shade reduces flower production. Plants grown in full sun will have purple stems while those grown in the shade will have green stems.

How to care for a Mexican petunia?

Mexican petunia is generally highly prized as a shade plant, but if your summers aren’t too brutal, the plant may be able to take full sun. It is drought tolerant , and in fact, throughout our brutal Central Texas summers, I give mine nary a drop of supplemental water and they do just fine.