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Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)
roo-EL-lee-a HEW-miliss

Deciduous Perennial in the Acanthaceae Family
 
Buy Wild Petunia
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $15.54 Likely available
5/1 - 5/4
5/8 - 5/11
5/15 - 5/18

Ruellia humilis, commonly known as the Fringeleaf Wild Petunia or Low Ruellia, is a delightful native perennial that thrives in dry, rocky habitats across much of the central and eastern United States. This species typically reaches 12-18 inches in height, showcasing a low-growing, sprawling habit with slender, hairy stems.

The star-shaped blooms of Ruellia humilis are the true highlight, appearing as lavender, pink, or white trumpet-shaped flowers with fringed, ruffled edges. These vibrant, 1-2 inch wide blossoms rise up from the foliage and open fully in the afternoon sunshine, creating a lovely, ephemeral display that lasts for a single day before new flowers emerge.

Ruellia humilis is an excellent choice for planting in rock gardens, sunny borders, and other well-drained, xeriscape-style settings. Its tolerance for drought, heat, and poor soil conditions make it a resilient, low-maintenance perennial that is well-suited for naturalized landscapes. Beyond its visual appeal, this species is also valued for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden. The delicate, yet dynamic blooms of Ruellia humilis make it a charming addition to any wildflower-inspired planting.

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 18 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Deciduous, Full Sun, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial
Bloom Period May to September
Flower Color Pale Pink to Pale Blue
 

More Info from Experts

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Prairie Dropseed
 
Wild Petunia
Wild Petunia
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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!