Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands
Plant Characteristics
Growth Form
Herbaceous
Height
1
to
2
ft.
Spread
1.5
to
2
ft.
Leaf Retention
Deciduous
Lifespan
Perennial
Habitat and Care Requirements
Soil Type(s)
Moist
Light Requirement
Sun, Part Shade
Water Requirement
Medium
Native Habitat
Woodland
Bloom and Attraction
Bloom Color
Purple
Bloom Season
Summer
Seasonal Interest
Nectar, Larval Host
Wildlife Benefit
Butterflies
Maintenance
Blooms in the heat of summer if given a little extra water. Propagation: Root division, Seed.
Comments
Bloom May-September. Showy blooms vary from a light lavender to purple. Reseeds readily. Larval Host: Buckeye, Common Wood Nymph. Nectar: butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Ruellia ciliosa var. longiflora, Ruellia humilis var. calvescens, Ruellia humilis var. depauperata, Ruellia humilis var. expansa, Ruellia humilis var. frondosa, Ruellia humilis var. longiflora
References
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 53. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RUHU. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Ruellia+humilis&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=91&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=565466#null