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Baja Ruellia

Ruellia peninsularis

true

1 gallon; 3 gallon

Baja Ruellia

In stock

4'x4'

Sizes:

Baja Ruellia – Ruellia peninsularis
Also known as: Desert Ruellia

An evergreen shrub native to the lower Sonoran Desert, Ruellia peninsularis typically grows along dry, gravelly slopes, rocky washes, bajadas, arroyos, and canyons in Baja California and the deserts of northwestern Mexico. In the garden, it forms a naturally rounded shape, growing about 4 feet tall and wide. The soft, hairy leaves are medium green and held on many slender branches, providing a lush look with minimal water.

Desert Ruellia is prized for its showy, funnel-shaped, purple flowers, which may bloom year-round in frost-free locations. The blooms are lightly fragrant and provide reliable nectar during the hot, dry seasons when few other plants are in flower. In the Coachella Valley and similar climates, it blooms most heavily in spring and fall, with sporadic flowering in summer.

It tolerates light frost but may be damaged or defoliated by hard freezes. Even then, it recovers quickly from the base in spring. While evergreen in mild winters, it may shed leaves in colder regions. Best planted in full sun to light shade with excellent drainage. Once established, it requires only minimal irrigation but benefits from occasional deep watering in high heat to prolong flowering. Avoid overwatering.

Wildlife Value
Host Plant: —
Nectar Source: Confirmed for native bees and hummingbirds. Butterflies including Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) and several skipper species also visit when ranges overlap.
Bird Resources: Nectar; Shelter; Perch
Bird Species: Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna); Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae); Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri); Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)

Additional Notes:
Listed as a valuable hummingbird plant in the Arizona Gardener’s Guide and Landscape Plants for Dry Regions. Included on regional low-water and pollinator-friendly plant lists by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Coachella Valley Water District.

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun

Mature size:

4'x4'

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

Purple

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

It has a nicely rounded natural growth habit and should not be sheared into a formal shape. Its pruning needs are minimal when allowed enough room to grow to its mature size. If needed, every three to four years, prune back severely to 1 foot tall and wide again in February to rejuvenate and get rid of old, woody growth

Cold Hardiness:

20 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.