Ruellia caroliniensis
A native Acanthaceae perennial in the Ruellia genus from the southeastern United States, it forms an upright, clump-forming plant with lavender-to-blue tubular flowers, tolerates sun to part shade with moist-to-well-drained soils, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and serves as a larval host for Common Buckeye and White Peacock butterflies.
Common Names
Wild Petunia, Petunia, Carolina Wild Petunia, Carolina Wild-Petunia, Carolina Petunia
Summary
Carolina wild petunia is a long-lived perennial native to the eastern United States. It grows about 1–2 feet tall with opposite, ovate leaves and lavender to blue tubular flowers arranged in axillary clusters. Flowers bloom from late spring to late summer; individual blossoms last a day, but blooms occur in succession. The plant provides nectar for bees and butterflies and serves as a larval host for the common buckeye butterfly.
Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or division, and it self-seeds readily but is not aggressive. It tolerates sun to partial shade and moist to well-drained soils, with drought tolerance once established, making it suitable for wildflower beds, borders, or groundcover; it attracts butterflies and provides nectar.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-24 inches
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8A-10B
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained soil, typically loamy to sandy, with neutral to slightly acidic pH (about 6.0–7.0).
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Blue to violet, including lavender, purple, and pink
Bloom Time
Spring through Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (J.F.Gmel.) Steud.
- Publication
- Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 481 (1841)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Genus
- Ruellia
Inferior Taxa
Ruellia caroliniensis subsp. caroliniensis Ruellia caroliniensis subsp. ciliosa Ruellia caroliniensis var. cinerascens Ruellia caroliniensis var. dentata Ruellia caroliniensis var. heteromorpha Ruellia caroliniensis var. succulenta
Synonyms
Pattersonia caroliniensis Ruellia caroliniensis var. caroliniensis Ruellia caroliniensis var. typica