Ruellia (Ruellia simplex) is a shrubby perennial with blue and purple showy flowers that butterflies and hummingbirds love. Here’s how to grow and care for ruellia. Mexican petunias (Ruellia simplex) are hardy, blooming perennials.

Understanding the Context

Learn how to care for these tough, low-maintenance flowers. Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. [3] They are not closely related to petunias (Petunia) although both genera belong to the same euasterid clade. The genus name, Ruellia, honors a French herbalist and physician, Jean de la Ruelle.

Key Insights

The epithet, simplex, references its simple leaves. There has been confusion over the correct epithet, and it has had several different names over the years. Mexican petunia, also known as Ruellia simplex, is a popular perennial that hails from warm regions of Mexico and South America. This low-maintenance plant is a favorite amongst gardeners in Hawaii, the state of Florida, Puerto Rico, and parts of South Carolina. Ruellia simplex, commonly called Mexican petunia or Texas petunia, is a vigorous, shrubby, woody-based, rhizomatous perennial that is grown as an annual north of USDA Zone 8.

Final Thoughts

Learn everything about growing and caring for Ruellia, a vibrant tropical plant. Discover tips on lighting, watering, soil, propagation, and how to resolve common issues. Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants, perhaps better known as Wild petunias. Native to the Americas, they offer a diverse range of growth habits, from low-growing groundcovers to tall shrubs.