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Carolina wild petunia
Ruellia caroliniensis
Acanthaceae
 

Copyright by: Shirley Denton

General Landscape Uses: Wildflower gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes: An uncommon understory herb in mesic flatwoods.

Availability: Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available in Fort Myers at All Native Garden Center (239-939-9663)

Description: Small to medium wildflower.

Dimensions: Typically 6-15 inches in height. Usually erect and taller than broad.

Growth Rate: Moderate.

Range: Eastern and central United States west to Texas and south to Broward and Collier counties. Perhaps extirpated in Broward County.

Plant Map Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

 Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.

Habitats: Pinelands.

Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.

Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.

Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.

Light Requirements: Full sun.

Flower Color: Blue or pink.

Flower Characteristics: Showy.

Flowering Season: Spring-summer.

Fruit: Inconspicuous capsule.

Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host plant for common buckeye (Junonia coenia) and white peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterflies. It also attract pollinators.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seeds, cuttings and divisions.

Comments: It will spread from seed in the garden, but is not aggressive. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Copyright by: George D. Gann, 2017
In cultivation, Florida

Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Copyright by: Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.

Copyright by: Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.


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