Ruellia brittoniana Wild Petunia

Ruellia brittoniana produces soft purple, petunia-like, 1"-2" blooms all summer long. A tall plant, it has coarse, willow-like foliage and attractive purple stems. This perennial will spread via rhizomes and seed. Ruellia brittoniana is heat and humidity tolerant and maintains its good looks all summer. Also known as Wild Petunia or Mexican Petunia, Ruellia brittoniana is native to Mexico, the Caribbean and South America, but has naturalized in parts of Florida. Ruellia brittoniana prefers full sun to light shade and moist to wet soil, even standing water up to 6". It is sometimes called Water Bluebell. Wonderful at pond edge. It can tolerate short periods of drought. It may be evergreen in lower portions of the South. Useful for rain gardens.