Purple Ruellia

Plant Type: perennial
Plant Height: 2-4 feet
Spread: 1-3 feet
Flower Color: purple
Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Shade

Purple Ruellia (Ruellia brittoniana) – Add Color and Wildlife to Your Arizona Garden

Purple Ruellia, also known as Mexican Petunia, is a vibrant, low-maintenance perennial that thrives in hot climates like Arizona. This adaptable plant is perfect for adding consistent color, attracting pollinators, and filling in garden spaces with lush foliage and stunning flowers.

Key Features of Purple Ruellia

1. Profuse Purple Blooms
   The highlight of Purple Ruellia is its striking, trumpet-shaped purple flowers that bloom continuously throughout the summer. Though each flower lasts only a day, new blooms appear daily, creating a long-lasting display that brings vibrancy to the garden.

2. Pollinator-Friendly
   These vivid purple flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to create a wildlife-friendly garden.

3. Dense Green Foliage
   Purple Ruellia forms a dense, bushy mound with narrow, dark green leaves that provide a lush, textured backdrop for the blooms. The plant's fast growth rate makes it ideal for filling empty spaces or as a colorful ground cover.

Ideal Growing Conditions for Arizona

Purple Ruellia is well-suited for Arizona’s climate and can handle a range of conditions:

• Sunlight: Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, although flowering may be reduced.
• Soil: Adapts to various soil types and can tolerate both wet and dry conditions.
• Water: Drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal supplemental water, which makes it an excellent choice for water-wise landscaping.
• Growth Habit: Known to spread quickly through its root system, so consider planting in areas where its spread won’t interfere with other plants or use root barriers.

Versatile Uses in Landscaping

Purple Ruellia can be used in various garden settings:

• Borders and Mass Planting: Perfect for adding color to borders or as a mass planting in larger areas.
• Ground Cover: Ideal for filling in bare spots quickly.
• Container Planting: Can be grown in containers for a pop of color on patios or near entrances.
• Walkways: Use along walkways to create a colorful path that attracts pollinators.

Easy Care and Maintenance

This plant requires minimal upkeep:

• Pruning: Occasional pruning helps maintain shape and manage its spread.
• Pest and Disease Resistance: Highly resilient to common garden pests and diseases.
• Cold Tolerance: May die back in colder months but usually returns with vigor in spring.

Order Purple Ruellia from Three Timbers Shop!

Bring enduring color and wildlife to your Arizona landscape with Purple Ruellia from ThreeTimbersShop.com. Its easy-care nature, stunning blooms, and adaptability make it a top choice for gardeners across the Phoenix Valley. Whether you’re creating a pollinator-friendly space or adding seasonal color, Purple Ruellia is a fantastic addition to your garden.

Three Timbers Installation Guide (Feel Free to Follow): Purple Ruellia

Planting Guide:

• Location: Full sun to partial shade (at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth and vibrant blooms)
• Soil: Well-drained, loamy or slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0-7.5)
• Spacing: Space plants 2-3 feet apart for optimal growth and air circulation
• Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as the root ball, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface
• Support: Purple Ruellia is a low-maintenance shrub that requires no staking and grows in a bushy form with abundant purple flowers

Watering Guide:

Watering After Planting:

• Initial Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to saturate the root ball and surrounding soil
• Frequency: Water every 4-5 days for the first 2-3 weeks to help establish the root system
• Watering Amount: Provide 2-3 inches of water per session for deep watering

When is the Plant Established?

• Timeframe: Purple Ruellia is considered established after 3-4 months when the roots have spread into the surrounding soil

Watering Once Established:

• Summer: Water every 7-10 days during the hotter months. If temperatures exceed 100°F, increase watering to every 5-7 days. Provide 2-3 inches of water per session.
• Winter: Water every 3-4 weeks during the cooler months, depending on rainfall.

Drip Irrigation Setup:

• Placement of Emitters: Place the drip emitters 6-12 inches away from the base of the plant for even watering
• Flow Rate: Use emitters with a flow rate of 1-2 gallons per hour
• Number of Emitters: 1 emitter per plant for even watering distribution
• Adjusting Frequency: In summer, increase watering frequency to every 5-7 days. In winter, reduce to every 3-4 weeks