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Katie Ruellia

Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie'

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1 Gallon

Katie Ruellia

In stock

1'x1.5'

Sizes:

Katie Ruellia — Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie'

Also known as: Dwarf Mexican Petunia, Katie’s Dwarf Petunia

Katie Ruellia is a compact, heat-loving perennial that brings long-season color and soft texture to waterwise gardens. A dwarf selection of the larger Ruellia brittoniana, this variety stays tidy and low, usually no more than 10 to 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide, making it perfect for borders, small beds, and containers.

This plant produces purple-blue, petunia-like flowers from spring through fall. The dark green, narrow leaves form a dense base of foliage that helps suppress weeds and fill in open areas. The flowers are especially attractive to butterflies, native bees, hummingbirds, and the occasional chuckwalla have also been observed in our gardens.

Katie Ruellia thrives in full sun to part shade and tolerates heat, humidity, and poor soils, as long as drainage is good. It is often used as a non-native groundcover in desert-adapted landscapes. While not agressive like its full-sized parent in some climates, it can spread gently by seed in warm conditions. Deadheading can help limit reseeding and encourage more blooms.

This cultivar may thin out during cold snaps, but it typically returns in spring with warmer temperatures. It works well paired with boulders, pathways, and larger upright desert shrubs for contrast and season-long color.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: —
Nectar Source: Monarch (Danaus plexippus); Queen (Danaus gilippus); Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui); native bees
Bird Resources: Insects
Bird Species: House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus); Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)

Plant Care

Native region:

Desert Adapted

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

1'x1.5'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Purple

Flower season:

Spring; Summer; Fall

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

25 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Bees:

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Tortoises:

Yes

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.