Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Acanthaceae

Genus:

Ruellia

Species:

Ruellia drummondiana

USDA Symbol:

RUDR

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb , Subshrub

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade,Shade

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

purple, lavender, blue

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

butterflies, bees, hummingbirds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from rootstock following fire; common in fire-maintained Texas grasslands and savannas.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage preferred

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to woodland edges and open areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily with warmth and moisture; no pretreatment typically required.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI