Ruellia, Desert Petunia, Florida Bluebells, Mexican Petunia, Mexican Blue Bells 'Katie Blue'

I really like this one as its hard to find tough, reblooming plants that have blue flowers. I cant comment on its hardiness yet, but it i...Read Mores easy to propagate by sticking a stem in a glass of water, and forms roots in about a week. I have heard the seeds can germinate from Katie, and I would like to know if the seedlings revert to the tall wild species type or stay small like Katie. I would actually like to have some of the tall, and have collected some viable looking seeds from it to sprout later. I dont think invasiveness would be an issue here.

Central Phoenix -- Katie blue Ruellia brittoniana is a very tough plant. It grows in the ground in our garden in a harsh location -- a n...Read Morearrow bed between a concrete walk and a brick patio, in full sun in summer and partial shade in winter. For many years it was watered sporadically, but is now on a drip system and has become more robust. We cover it during the hardest freezes, because below 30 the tops will be damaged. During our coldest winters (lows in mid 20s F) it has sometimes sustained substantial damage, but has bounced back.

This variety is short mounding plants when grown in bright shade to full sun. In shade, bit taller and broader leaves.

I ...Read Morehave them growing in beds around trees and bushes - nice ground cover if that is what you need/want.

Once established - will tolerate drought - evergreen in Tomball, TX (northwest of Houston, TX).

Have some growing in containers - doing very nicely -

I too was awed by the fantastic show of purple flowers...then the second year came around and before I actually realized it, the plant do...Read Moreubled in size and started sending up shoots 1-2 feet away. I tried to keep it in check but it became a constant battle. I just came in from digging a hole about 5 foot around and 18 inches deep. This was how big the root structure got in 2 years...from now on, if I want to have another one, it will forever remain in a planter.