Ruellia humilis
Fringeleaf wild petunia
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.7m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A delicate looking plant that has upright stems and which carries large soft coloured light violet flowers at the stem tops. The flowers are likely to appear between July and September. The flowers have open faces with five broad wavy petals that surround a greenish cream throat. There may be some slim maroon flashes leading into its heart. The leaves are long and lance shaped with fine toothed edges. It is deciduous and the foliage turns yellow in autumn before leaf fall.
- Flower colour
- Mauve, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.7m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Pinch out growing tips
On young plants pinch out foliage tips to encourage a pleasant and bushy growth habit.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Planting
Prune young growth after flowering
When the plant has finished flowering, remove the flower and most of the young growth that the plant has made. Leave just around 2 centimetres of young growth on the plant. Don't cut into old wood unless it is diseased or damaged.