Ruellia, Desert Petunia, Florida Bluebells, Mexican Petunia, Mexican Blue Bells 'Katie'

On Sep 4, 2018, legalsmith from Baton Rouge, LA wrote:

I love this plant! In 2009, I planted lavender, pink and white varieties in my back yard where I have big dogs. They bloom from early summer until it freezes, if it freezes. Evergreen in mild winters, it will freeze to the ground and return in spring when we have a hard winter.
Not only is it consistently in bloom, it is a very rugged plant that withstands my big dogs and even bigger people walking on it. It has spread well in the years since I planted it, and I have encouraged this, trying to get it to the point of ground cover. I have not found it to be invasive, like I understand the larger ruellias are, though I understand it may be so in Florida and precautions should always be taken when this is an issue.
This is such a cheerful plant, always blooming and often crow... read moreding out weeds with a little help from me. If any seeds end up where you do not want them, it pulls up easily in any stage of growth. You can transplant it or throw it away, but it will grow in some difficult areas--rocky soils, thin soils, wet areas, dry areas, shade and sun. With a little creativity, these plants can turn an eyesore area into a charming mini-garden.

On Apr 30, 2011, txsage from Katy, TX wrote:

This one grows like a weed - healthy and blooming most of the time, Houston heat and cold tolerant. Freeze kills foliage, but not roots, comes back every year, often in new places.

On May 26, 2007, vossner from Richmond, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

This plant annoys me sometimes because it does spread; however, they are very easy to remove at any stage of growth.

Excellent for front of border, fillling bare spots, container gardening

On Jun 13, 2006, MizCharlie from Winter Garden, FL wrote:

I tried to add a note regarding the danger of this plant. Here's what the Florida Dept of Ag says about it:

"Mexican petunia has been designated by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as a Category I invasive plant. That means it has the ability to displace native plant species so as to alter native plant communities. While it is not illegal to plant it, unintended consequences can last for ever."

On Mar 11, 2004, sweezel from McKinney, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

Much more interesting and much less invasive than the other cultivars. I planted my transplant in May and it had expanded to at least twice it's original size by frost so it is good for filling in spots quickly. Also, it is very easily divided if it spreads out because the stalks pull up separately. Also comes in white or pink blooming varieties.

On Sep 25, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

"Katie" is sometimes called Nolan's dwarf. Shortly after Lynn R. Lowrey, a well known Houston horticulturalist and collector (considered to be the founder of the native plant movement in Texas) sold his nursery in Conroe, Texas, to his friend Katie Fergerson, two employees, Herbert Durand and Nolan Guillot, discovered a short growing natural hybrid Ruellia. After it was brought to Lowrey’s attention, he began testing, cultivating, sharing and promoting it after naming it after his friend. Both Katie Fergerson and Lynn Lowery are now deceased, but their contributions to horticultural endeavors live on.

It is a plant which forms clumps 6-10" tall and 12" wide, it is a super border and/or ground cover plant which begins blooming profusely in mid-summer to late summer and conti... read morenues into fall. The bluish-purple, petunia-like, 1.5" blooms standout against the deep green sword-shaped foliage which is beautiful without any flowers. Tolerating shade, the plants will flower more in full sun. Once established, they are drought-tolerant, but perform best with regular waterings. Apply a high phosphorus fertilizer to encourage bloom production (needs no deadheading).

A few new plants may spring up from seed (I have had a few do so), but this species is not invasive and does not self-sow endlessly as do the larger types. If it does, it is easily removed. It has no serious insect or disease problems. It is mostly deer resistant. In mild winters, it is evergreen, but it will die to the ground after a hard freeze and return in spring from the roots. I protected mine last year with white colored frost protection sheets purchased at a nursery and they are 1.5 feet in height and width. It has been named a Texas Superstar by Texas A&M University because it withstands hot, dry areas and needs no pesticidal sprays. In colder climates it must be grown as an annual.