Re: Ruellia humilis
Hello Janis,
You gave a most excellent short article on two species of our native Ruellias.
Also your promotion of, and fondness for, our natives was quite very pleasing.
Good job!
As with many of our natives, the information is out there, just that it is in
small collector's catalogs, for the most part. Native wildflower guides are also
good sources of information.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <LONDE@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Ruellia humilis
> Claire --
> I'm so glad you asked about Ruellia humilis. It is one of my favorite
> Missouri natives and I am glad to find somebody else growing it. Around here
> it is called wild petunia (or sometimes hairy wild petunia to distinguish it
> from the other Missouri native, R. strepens). R. humilis is known in some
> other parts of the country as fringeleaf wild petunia.
>
> This species is native to most of the eastern United States where it is
> commonly found growing wild on glades and open rocky hillsides, savannas and
> dry prairies.
>
> It is not native to New York, but it should be hardy there. I think you can
> believe it is hardy to zone 4 because its range includes the northern parts
> of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Looking at the plant's distribution
> map on the USDA online plant database (http://plants.usda.gov/plants), I
> would say it is hardy from zones 4 to10.
>
> You are right, it is difficult to find cultural information on this plant.
> There are some tropical plants in the genus and they are better known in
> gardening circles. Our natives are difficult to locate in the trade and are
> seldom grown in gardens, except those of wildflower nuts like me.
>
> It is called wild petunia because the flower looks just like a petunia, but
> it is not related to the common annual we all know as petunia. I think it is
> lovely, but it is a humble plant and not as showy as its namesake. The
> annual petunias are in the nightshade family. Ruellia is in the Acanthus
> (Acanthaceae) family.
>
> R. humilis is a perennial. It does well in dry soil. It has a dense coat of
> fine hairs that protect it from evaporation. The lavender flowers appear from
> May to October. I believe a white flowered variation is sometimes found. In
> the wild and in my garden it grows in full sun. I don't know how well it
> would do in the shade.
>
> It is named for the 14th century French herbalist, Jean de la Ruelle.
> Humilis is Latin for low growing or dwarf. That's about all I know about it.
> Hope this helps and that you enjoy your wild petunia! --Janis
>
> In a message dated 9/12/00 11:01:55 AM Central Daylight Time,
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