WHATS GOING ON in the gardening world?
Here you can check out the happenings of other clubs. See their events, meetings, etc.
Click on any event on the calendar for more detail. Or, Click on a Club/Society above for more information and links to websites. Want your Club here -- click on 'Contact' on the menu above.
What's New? See articles below calendar and check the Bullets in white
Click on any event on the calendar for more detail. Or, Click on a Club/Society above for more information and links to websites. Want your Club here -- click on 'Contact' on the menu above.
What's New? See articles below calendar and check the Bullets in white
New Article by Soni Forsman
" Just Add Water"
By Soni Forsman -- previous articles under "Just Add Water" bullet above
Ruellia brittoniana, dwarf size
aka Mexican petunia
Ruellia brittoniana 'Dwarf White'
Ruellia brittoniana ‘Dwarf Blue’ and ‘Dwarf White’ are shrubby little plants, 10-12 inch high, with lots of petunia-like flowers. Each flower lasts a day but they bloom all summer in full or part sun. The dark green foliage is narrow, willow-like.
Ruellia brittoniana 'Dwarf Blue'
The Mexican petunia tolerates a range of growing conditions, preferring wet or moist soils making it a desirable aquatic plant. It will also grow in dry soils if kept moist until well established. These southern perennials are hardy in USDA zones 8-10 but can be over wintered as houseplants in colder climates. It spreads by rhizome and seeds, mostly rhizomes in colder areas. Ruellias are considered invasive in some states where they are perennial.
Ruellia brittoniana 'Dwarf White' in a container water garden
‘Dwarf Blue’ and ‘Dwarf White’ are wonderful companion plants to taller marginal plants in my container water gardens. I plant in a six-inch azalea pot with good top soil, fertilizing with one fertilizer tablet. I place in the container so the top of the growing pot is at water level or just above. I feed a couple times during the season, one tablet per pot.
Ruellia brittoniana 'Dwarf Blue' as a companion plant with Black Madras Ornamental Rice. Nymphaea 'Little Sue' in the background.
Dwarf Mexican petunias may be small-in-stature but the flowers add a big splash of color next to the otherwise plain/boring bases of many marginal plants.