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(Ruellia caroliniensis)
Carolina Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis)
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Cole Shoemaker
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Cole Shoemaker
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Cole Shoemaker | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Cole Shoemaker | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-07-04T19:54Z |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Ruellia caroliniensis, commonly known as Carolina Wild Petunia, is a deciduous perennial herb native to open woodlands, forest edges, and savannas in the Southeastern United States. It typically reaches a height of 0.5-1 feet (0.15-0.3 meters) and spreads to about 1 foot (0.3 meters) wide. This plant forms clumps of soft, hairy leaves and produces trumpet-shaped flowers that are blue to purple in color, blooming profusely in the summer months. The flowers are quite showy and attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
Carolina Wild Petunia is valued for its adaptability to various light conditions, making it suitable for a range of garden settings, including borders, native plant gardens, and as a ground cover. It is drought-tolerant once established, requiring low to medium amounts of water, and it thrives in well-drained soils. While it prefers full sun to part shade, it can also tolerate full shade, which makes it versatile for different garden designs. It can self-seed and spread in the garden, which is beneficial for naturalistic plantings but may require management in more formal settings.CC BY-SA 4.0
Carolina Wild Petunia is valued for its adaptability to various light conditions, making it suitable for a range of garden settings, including borders, native plant gardens, and as a ground cover. It is drought-tolerant once established, requiring low to medium amounts of water, and it thrives in well-drained soils. While it prefers full sun to part shade, it can also tolerate full shade, which makes it versatile for different garden designs. It can self-seed and spread in the garden, which is beneficial for naturalistic plantings but may require management in more formal settings.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-1 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Blue, Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Native to open woodlands, forest edges, and savannas in the Southeastern United States
Other Names
Common Names: Wild Petunia
Scientific Names: , Ruellia caroliniensis, Ruellia caroliniensis var. caroliniensis, Ruellia caroliniensis var. typica, Ruellia caroliniensis f. eciliata, Ruellia caroliniensis f. hypopsila, Ruellia caroliniensis f. laevior, Ruellia caroliniensis f. breviberbis, Hygrophila oblongifolia var. laxior, Ruellia caroliniensis f. candida
GBIF Accepted Name: Ruellia caroliniensis (J.F.Gmel.) Steud.