Re: Ruellia humilis

> I have a newly acquired plant - Ruellia humilis.  I have thought this genus 
> tender in northern states.   At the arboretum sale where puchased, I was told 
> this species is hardy through zone 4.
> 
> Now, I am having trouble believing the zone 4 information.  I put my plant in 
> a cold frame for the winter.  Is there any experience out there with r. 
> humilis or any ruellia hardy in the north.  There has been some discussion on 
> the Shadegarden List regarding this genus but I was told: full sun. 
> 
> Ruellia does not seem popular enough to appear in catalogs or books in any 
> depth.

Hi Claire,

   I've grown R. humilis in my zone 5b garden for about eight years now
   -- in fact, it's one of my favorite perennials.  At my parents' place
   (zone 5a USDA) it also comes back quite well each year.

   We've also found this species to be a prolific self-seeder.  Every year
   we find dozens of new plants nestled into the pockets of dirt along 
   the sidewalks, between pavers, etc.   It appears to do best in dry, 
   well-drained areas, although it grows well in moist, hard clay and
   will flower in both sun or shade.

   Swink & Wilhelm list it as a common species around the Chicago
   area in "Plants of the Chicago Region".  In "Tallgrass Prairie
   Wildflowers" (check out Frank Oberle's photography in there if you
   ever want to be wowed) by Doug Ladd the range is listed through 
   southern Wisconsin.

   Are you actually in zone 4?  It sounds like that may be the very
   edge of its habitable range...

   I particularly like this species interspersed with Origanum
   'Herrenhaussen'.  The colors compliment each other well, and the
   airy openess of the Origanum's flowers is a nice foil for the coarser
   Ruellia.

   Here's a moderately OK photo of it with massively out of focus Origanum:

      http://www.hort.net/gallery/view/aca/ruehu/

   And another without any companion plants:

      http://www.hort.net/gallery/view/aca/ruehu01/

Chris

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