Ruellia ‘Katie’ Blue or White

Ruellia brittoniana

Characteristics

Culture

Ruellia ‘Katie’ Blue or White is a dwarf herbaceous form of the shrubby, Mexican Petunia native species. It is a vigorous, clump-forming plant which typically grows in a mound 1-foot tall spreading to 1-foot wide.  Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system.  Although Mexican Petunias are drought-tolerant once established, they perform best with regular irrigation during droughts and with regular feeding of high phosphorus fertilizers.  Ruellia ‘Katie’ is a vigorous, dwarf, herbaceous plant which typically grows to 6-10” tall spreading to 12” wide. It features linear, sword-shaped, green leaves to 6” long and ½” wide and short rhizomes. It is a chance seedling discovered by Katie Ferguson growing in her Conroe, Texas nursery. Bluish-purple or white, tubular, trumpet-shaped, petunia-like flowers (1.5″) cover this plant throughout the summer to frost.

Noteworthy Characteristics

An improved dwarf variety that continues to bloom summer-long, without deadheading.  Each bloom last one day, but the plant will be covered with multiple blooms. Large bluish-purple or white flowers are backed by low, spreading mounds narrow, dark green foliage.  Perfect for dry, neglected spots in cooler summer regions, and thrives with regular garden water in hotter regions. Evergreen in frost-free areas.  Under proper growing conditions, dwarf Mexican petunias produce compact, clumping mounds of dark green, lance-shaped leaves and bright, tubular flowers when in full bloom during the hottest part of the summer. When conditions are favorable, Ruellia ‘Katie’ Blue or White will reseed, but the resulting plants retain the dwarf, clumping character. This plant is not as invasive as its parent plant. 

Katie’s Dwarf was named a Texas Superstar^® plant in the spring of 2002.  To be named a Texas Superstar^® a plant undergoes several years of extensive field trials during which they must show superior performance under Texas’ tough growing conditions.  Trial plants receive minimal soil preparation, reasonable levels of water, and no pesticides.

Problems

This tough, heat-loving perennial is disease, insect and deer resistant.  They are rarely bothered by snails and caterpillars.    

Garden Uses

Perfect for mass planting, this durable and showy perennial is at its best at the front of an informal border. Compact form makes an excellent ground cover for tight, narrow spaces. Fine, almost grass-like texture makes an attractive, deep green filler for large areas, planted on a berm or sunny slope.