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Mexican Petunia in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Ruellia simplex

 

Mexican Petunia

Ruellia simplex are fast-growing perennials with green to purple stems and green leaves. Their flowers are short-lived, but they bloom for a long period of time, beginning in early spring and continuing until frost. They can reach 1.3m in height and spread. They can be invasive. Mexican petunias prefer wet or marshy soils, such as moist woodlands or the edges of ponds and lakes. They can withstand drought and even full sun in drier soils.

Contributed by @carol13450

 
plant Features
  • Mexican Petunia likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Mexican Petunia likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Mexican Petunia is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Mexican Petunia likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Mexican Petunia

Latin name

Ruellia simplex

type

Perennial

family

Acanthaceae

ph

5.0 - 8.0 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Mexican Petunia likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Mexican Petunia is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Mexican Petunia likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

  • Water

    Mexican Petunia likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Mexican Petunia is 1.30meters x 1.30meters 1.30 M 1.30 M

Ruellia simplex

Ruellia simplex are fast-growing perennials with green to purple stems and green leaves. Their flowers are short-lived, but they bloom for a long period of time, beginning in early spring and continuing until frost. They can reach 1.3m in height and spread. They can be invasive. Mexican petunias prefer wet or marshy soils, such as moist woodlands or the edges of ponds and lakes. They can withstand drought and even full sun in drier soils.


Planting

From Early Spring TO Early Spring

Roellia are very invasive, they grow horizontal roots that grow above and below ground, making them difficult to remove thus they are best planted in containers and the containers can be submerged into the ground to prevent spreading. It is also wise to remove seed heads before they ripen as these explode and spread seeds for some distance. They grow in most soil types but prefer moist but well drained sites.

 
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