Thanks Hetty.
Yes Dave, it is also considered invasive in Texas.
I did put this comment in the DB:
There is a petunia native to Florida which is a much better choice than Ruellia tweediana. The native is Ruellia caroliniensis
Carolina Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis subsp. caroliniensis)...
This R. tweediana is one tough cookie to get rid of. And if you think you can control it --- well, you might want to think again. It spreads willingly by seeds which have no dormancy mechanism and also by rooting wherever the stems touch the ground. It will also send runners underground. It may be pretty & it may be drought tolerant as well as able to grow in wetlands but it is also an invasive nightmare.
This has become a problem in many states; not just Florida.