Also known as Wild Petunia · 175 gardener saves
Ruellia: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Ruellia, the genus most gardeners know as wild petunia. We track 10 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 10 most-saved Ruellia varieties
Of 10 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedWild Petunia
Ruellia humilis
#2 most savedTall Purple Ruellia
Ruellia brittoniana 'Tall Purple Form'
#3 most savedRuellia Strawberries and Cream
Ruellia brittoniana 'Strawberries and Cream'
White Wild Petunia
Ruellia malacosperma 'White Flower Form'
Chi Chi Mexican Petunia
Ruellia brittoniana 'Chi Chi'
Pink Mexican Petunia
Ruellia brittoniana 'Colobe Pink'
Katie Ruellia
Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie'
Black Beauty Ruellia, Wild Petunia
Ruellia tuberosa 'Black Beauty'
Dwarf White Mexican Petunia
Ruellia brittoniana 'White Katie'
Red Christmas Pride
Ruellia elegans
How to grow Ruellia
What the Ruellia varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 10 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Ruellia year
- DivideMarch and September90% of varieties
Divide large, crowded clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigor.
- DeadheadJune–September60% of varieties
Remove spent seed pods to tidy the plant and encourage more blooms.
- PruneFebruary60% of varieties
Cut back hard (to 2-3 inches) in late winter/early spring to maintain shape.
- PlantMarch and April50% of varieties
Plant container or bare root plants after the danger of hard frost has passed.
- FertilizeApril–June50% of varieties
Apply a light, balanced fertilizer in early spring; often not required.
- Spring CleanupFebruary50% of varieties
Cut back old stems and dead foliage to the ground in late winter.
- Winter PrepOctober and November30% of varieties
Cut back stems after a hard frost to tidy the garden.
Do
- Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring
- Water regularly during dry spells 🌱
- Prune to shape after flowering
- Water consistently during dry spells 🌱
- Water deeply during dry spells 🌱
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering in winter ❌
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Overwater to prevent root rot ❌
- Don’t fertilize with high nitrogen in late fall
What goes wrong with Ruellia
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky honeydew and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing and speckled leaves | Use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled leaves | Increase humidity and spray with insecticidal soap |
| Root rot | Wilting and yellowing leaves | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Root Rot | Wilting and blackened roots | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide |
Making more Ruellia
Cuttings
- Take 4-inch softwood cuttings in early summer
- Remove lower leaves and dip in rooting hormone
- Plant in moist well-drained soil
- Keep soil moist for 6 weeks until roots develop
Seeds
- Tuck seeds into moist soil surface in spring
- Keep soil consistently moist
- Germination occurs in 2-3 weeks
Ruellia questions
How many types of Ruellia are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 10 distinct Ruellia varieties. The most popular — ranked by 175 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Ruellia grow in?
Across its varieties, Ruellia covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Ruellia bloom?
Most Ruellia varieties bloom in summer, fall, mid-summer, summer to fall. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Ruellia should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Design with Ruellia in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
