Summary
Carolina petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) is a long-lived, clump-forming herbaceous perennial. With an upright habit it reaches 1-3’ tall and generally less than 3’ wide. It prefers an organic, moist to average, well-drained loamy to rocky soil in light shade or partial sun. It will take full sun with adequate moisture and has good drought tolerance once established.
Foliage is 5″ long and 3″ across, dark green, lanceolate, and creates a nice contrast to the varying color shades of the five petal-like lobed and trumpet-shaped flowers. Flowers are borne in clusters of 2 to 3, arise from the leaf axils, and are about 2″ long and 1½” across. Some flowers have darker venation along their interior, which function as nectar guides for visiting insects. Typically, only one or two of the pinkish lavender to bluish violet flowers in the cluster will be open. Blooms only last for a day, but the long bloom period from June into August makes up for their brevity.
Flowers are a source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, wasps, and hummingbirds, and the foliage supports the larval stage of the Common Buckeye butterfly. Plants easily seed in but are not aggressive, deadhead if this is a concern. Combine with white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata), Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), and broad-leaf goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) in a woodland edge display. In a sunnier garden, pair with fire pink (Silene virginica) and small-headed gayfeather (Liatris microcephala). Zones 5-9.
More Details
- Sun/Shade Conditions
full-sun, part-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
dry, moist - Flowering Period
late-sprint-to-late-summer - Soil PH
adaptable - Flower Color
lavender - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
green - Fruit/Seed Color
brown