So far, it seems like an excellent selection for plant borders or areas where a durable source of color is needed. Uses, Benefits, Cures, Side Effects, Nutrients in Ruellia Tuberosa. Compact (great in pots!) Tough plant that takes dry or wet soil. Mexican-petunia (also known as Mexican bluebell or Britton's petunia) is described as a "hardy perennial edging plant for flower beds and as colorful groundcovers." Ruellia malacosperma Greenm. Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex C. Wright) is an ornamental plant species popular in southeastern landscapes and gardens.It is native to Mexico, the Antilles, western Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northwest Argentina (Ezcurran and Daniel 2007), and it is also found throughout the southeastern United States (Wunderlin and Hansen 2013). Ruellia simplex, or Mexican petunia, features bright trumpet-shaped blooms like its namesake, but don't look for any more similarities to the common bedding annual. Mowing, tillage or weed-eating the tops off Mexican-petunia will not remove the plants entirely. Established plants have respectable drought tolerance. A single spray of a 2% foliar application of glyphosate will control small areas of Mexican-petunia; however, if the area of established plants is large or especially dense, then a second herbicide application may be needed after 2 to 3 months. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. and very easy to grow. [1], Ruellia simplex is native to Mexico, the West Indies, western Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Commonly known as the Mexican petunia, the ruellia is an herbaceous perennial shrub with highly invasive tendencies. Ruellia are hardy and half hardy perennial sub shrubs that reach from 30 to 90 cm in height.. It also does well in average garden soils with even moisture. The Alabama Plant Atlas is a source of data for the distribution of plants within the state as well as taxonomic, conservation, invasive, and wetland information for each species. It thrives as a marginal water plant and in boggy soils. Bare ground can quickly become invaded by weeds or different invasive species common to urban areas. [3] The genus is named after French botanist Jean Ruel, while the specific name refers to the simple, not compound leaves. Seeds generally have high germination rates, and can germinate in both light and dark conditions. Ruellia simplex (Britton’s Wild Petunia, Desert/Mexican Petunia, Mexican Bluebell) Ruellia simplex or better known by its synonyms R. brittoniana and R. tweediana, is a delightful plant to have in one’s home garden.We got several plants in three small poly bags for a steal… really dirt cheap for just RM10. Stands of Mexican-petunia can also spread via underground stems or rhizomes. How to Grow Ruellia Plants Guide to Growing Wild petunia, Common Ruellia, and Fever root. Central Phoenix -- Katie blue Ruellia brittoniana is a very tough plant. What is Mexican petunia? Often confused with Ruellia tweediana, but its leaves are a bit shorter and wider. As a hardy perennial (you only need to plant them once), the Mexican petunia is one of several desert plants that are recommended for warm, dry climates. This page uses Google Analytics Ruellia simplex, or Mexican petunia, is a herbaceous evergreen perennial of the Acanthaceae family.It is sometimes named Ruellia brittoniana, but R. simplex is preferred, as it is the name first given to the plant when described in Cuba. Facts, Benefits & Uses of Dwarf Bluebell It is a native of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. They are not closely related to petunias (Petunia) although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade.The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle, herbalist and physician to Francis I of France and translator of several works of Dioscorides. Wild Mexican-petunia must be removed completely, both above and belowground, or it will continue to resprout. Reinvasion and/or occurrence of new invaders can be a problem in home-gardens; therefore we recommend that herbicide treatments be followed by replanting with native or appropriate non-aggressive ornamental plants. Scotland RW; Vollesen K, 2000. Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Jan 27, 2017 1:32 PM. Use sterile Ruellia cultivars such as "Mayan Purple," "Purple Showers," "Mayan Pink" and "Mayan White." • Hypolipidemic / Antioxidant: Study evaluated a powdered form of an ethanolic extract of Ruellia tuberosa for antilipidemic and antioxidant effects in hypercholesterolemic rats. Sometimes, the Latin name for this plant is written as Ruellia simplex, which was the original name given to this plant when it was discovered in Cuba in 1870. Seeds in well. In fertile forms, cylindrical fruit or capsules containing 4 to 28 seeds are produced. Found in dry open woods and prairies Pennsylvania to Indiana, south to Alabama. Control in invaded natural areas as well as control at the propagule source (home-gardens and landscapes) is needed for long-term management of this invasive species. We moved into our current home nine months go and I've been trying to eradicate this plant from two separate areas of my yard ever since. Noteworthy Characteristics. For more multimedia, look at Ruellia simplex on Wikimedia Commons . Answer: Neither Ruellia brittonianna (Mexican petunia) nor any other species of Ruellia appear in any of the following toxic plant databases: Poisonous Plants of … It is important to install appropriate plant material into bare areas in the home-landscape. [4], Ruellia simplex is an evergreen perennial growing 3 ft (0.91 m) tall, forming colonies of stalks with lance-shaped leaves that are 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) and .5 to .75 in (1.3 to 1.9 cm) wide. Native to Mexico and western South America, Ruellia simplex, also known as R. tweediana, R. brittoniana, R. coerulea, and R. malacosperma, is cold hardy to USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11.Although there has been confusion over the plants’ proper name since a German botanist named them in 1879, most horticulturists now refer to them as R. tweediana. The Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) is a beautiful addition to a flowering backyard retreat. Is large, then an herbicide, be aware of and follow instructions. Stems or rhizomes is only 1 ft ( 0.30 m ) tall South to Alabama ( 0.30 m ).. Beautiful addition to a flowering backyard retreat for many years it was likely introduced as ornamental. 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