Wild Petunia Ruellia elegans
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wild Petunia:
- Phonetic Spelling
- roo-EL-ee-ah EL-eh-ganz
- Description
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Ruellia elegans, or Red Ruellia, is native to Brazil with bright red trumpet shaped flowers that appear on 6 to 8 inch wand-like stems. The upper petals tend to flare out and back, while the lower one curls out and downward. The blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds and last from May until frost. The plant tolerates a light frost, but dies back at about 28 degrees. It forms a 12 inch high by 24 inch in diameter mound of soft green, semi-fuzzy foliage. The plant is described as an annual, but because it reseeds and spreads rapidly, it is sometime thought of as a perennial.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
Bacterial leaf spots, fungal leaf spots, rust, root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ruellia
- Species:
- elegans
- Family:
- Acanthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Brazil
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Bright red trumpet shaped five-petaled 1 to 2 inch flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- It forms a 12 inch high by 24 inch in diameter mound of soft green, semi-fuzzy foliage.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Flowers appear on 6 to 8 inch wand-like stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
