Ruellia brittoniana     
Common ruellia   
Acanthaceae Family     

Form: perennial shrub
Seasonality: evergreen
Size: to 3ft with equal spread; low branches will droop over and root
Leaves: linear, lancolate, serrate, prominent purple venation
Flowers: in leaf axils, 2in long funnel-shaped purple or blue flowers from mid-spring until frost
Fruit: seed; self sows aggressively
Stems/Trunks: purple stems
Range/Origin: Mexico, SW US, naturalized in many areas
Hardiness: below 32°F tip dieback seen; dies to ground in mid 20s, recovers rapidly

leaf of Ruellia brittoniana note purple veination on leaf bottom

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• color
• containers and planters

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: best in full sun, handles shade
• Water: regular, drought tolerant
• Soil: adaptabl, best in prepared
• Propagation: seed, vegetative cuttings or divisions
• Maintenance: trim to keep in bounds, removal of frost damaged foliage

NOTES: aka Mexican barrio ruellia variety 'Chi chi' has pink flowers variety 'Icicles' has white flowers variety 'Baby Katie' is a dwarf, standard purple flowers but height to 12in only needs to be constrained by container or spreads like a weed
	Ruellia brittoniana and flower (left)

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This page was first created July 6, 2001 and last modified May 16, 2004.

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Web page design and photographs by Toni Moore, Master Gardener
email to: tmoore1@flash.net

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