General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 2-3 feet
Plant Spread: 1-2 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: 3/4 inch glabrous capsule containing several flattened brown seeds.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Lavender
Other: Pinkish-lavender to blue-violet with several reticulated, thin purple veins in rhw throat.
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Humidity tolerant

Image
Common names
  • Limestone Wild Petunia
  • Smooth Ruellia
  • Limestone Petunia
  • Limestone Ruellia
  • Wild Petunia

Photo Gallery
Location: Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska
Date: 2012-05-16
Location: mid-TN
Date: 2016-07-26
This plant is living up to its nickname -- Limestone Ruellia -- b
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2004-05-23
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-05-26
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-07
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-07
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-05-26
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: Tennessee
Date: 2003-06-07
Steven J. Baskauf http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/
Location: mid-TN
Date: 2016-07-26
Location: mid-TN
Date: 2016-07-26
Comments:
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Nov 25, 2011 8:08 PM concerning plant:
    This species has only sparsely hairy stems and leaves and grows to 3' tall.
    Habitat is moister than its cousin R. humilis likes, lowland woods, borders of streams.

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