Violet Wild Petunia

Ruellia ciliatiflora

Native to:
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Acanthaceae
Genus:
Ruellia
Species:
Ruellia ciliatiflora
USDA Symbol:
RUNU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Subshrub
Height:
60 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
violet, lavender

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Texan crescent (Anthanassa texana), Tropical Buckeye (Junonia evarete), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rootstock following fire; common in fire-maintained grasslands and prairies of Texas.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions with light. Fresh seed germinates best.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI