Re: Ruellia Brittoniana
- To: Janet Smithen <j*@earthlink.net>
- Subject: Re: Ruellia Brittoniana
- From: r* <r*@unm.edu>
- Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 09:09:09 -0700 (PDT)
Besides the purple-flowered "Mexican Petunia" (Ruellia
brittoniana), there is a form called 'chi-chi' with ice-pink flowers. The
pink form is not so much a water guzzler as the purple, which I have to
water every evening. I notice Logee's is offering Ruellia graecizans with
red flowers.
Richard Riedy
New Mexico High Desert, Zone 6/7
Annual Rainfall c. 200mm/8"
On Thu, 22 Jul 1999, Janet Smithen wrote:
> Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 17:29:41 -0700
> From: Janet Smithen <jansmithen@earthlink.net>
> To: Mediterranean plant list <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Subject: Re: Ruellia Brittoniana
>
> >
> > > All:
> > >
> > > Eureka! I've found my "mystery potato," and it turns out instead to be the
> > > "Mexican Petunia," (not really a Petunia at all) Ruellia brittoniana.
> > > There's a photo and description at:
> > > http://www.streetside.com/plants/floridata/ref/r/ruellia.htm
> > > I guess if I were a better botanist to begin with, my confusion would have
> > > been cleared up much sooner. Thanks for all of your educated guesses.
> > >
> > > Kurt
> >
>
> Thanks Kurt
>
> I bought that very plant this time last year from a small nursery down in north
> San Diego County. It was labled "Reinwardtia"! Now, none of my references listed
> a purple flowering reniwardtia, so I had a mystery plant as well.
>
> It has grown well in its 18" Mexican clay pot with a few other perennials such
> as a white flowering Echinacea, a lime colored Lysimachia nummularia and a
> species veronica (I don't know). Like you, I cut it back hard this winter and it
> came back vigorously flowering all the way. Although a little lanky in growth, I
> value it for it's ability to flower throughout the long, hot summer.
>
> And now I know its corect name, thanks to your research.
>
> Jan
>
> --
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Jan Smithen, gardening teacher
> California Arboretum Foundation
> jansmithen@earthlink.net
> Sunset zone : 19
> USDA zone : 10
>
> Visit the California Arboretum homepage at :
> http://www.arboretum.org/
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>
