Carolina Ruellia
ExplorePlants
Carolina Ruellia
ruellia caroliniensis
The Carolina Ruellia is a colorful flower that grows in gardens and along roadsides. Its bright purple petals attract butterflies and bees, making it a favorite among pollinators!
Habitat: It lives in open fields, gardens, and along roadsides in the southeastern United States.
Appearance
The Carolina Ruellia has delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically lavender to purple, often with five spreading lobes. Its oval, somewhat hairy dark green leaves grow on fuzzy stems, giving it a soft texture. It looks like a wild petunia.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyAcanthaceaeGenusRuellia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Even though it's called 'wild petunia,' it's not a true petunia!
Its flowers only last one day but new ones bloom constantly!
Many tiny hairs on its leaves protect it from hungry insects.
The sound of its popping seed pods can sometimes be heard!
Special abilities
Ability
Seed Exploder
Carolina Ruellia has seed pods that explosively pop open, flinging its seeds far away to spread!
Ability
Drought Defender
Carolina Ruellia can grow in dry, sunny spots, using its tough roots to find water and stay strong.
Ability
Pollinator Magnet
Carolina Ruellia produces nectar-rich flowers that attract busy bees and colorful butterflies to help it reproduce.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-90 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 3-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Collects nectar and pollen.
pollinates
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Visits flowers for nectar.
depends on
Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
Larvae feed on its leaves.
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Buzz pollinates its flowers.
Traits
Herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Carolina Wild PetuniaRuelliaWild Petunia
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Carolina Ruellia?
30-90 cm
How wide does Carolina Ruellia spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Carolina Ruellia?
3-5 cm
When does Carolina Ruellia bloom?
Summer to fall
Is Carolina Ruellia edible?
No
Is Carolina Ruellia toxic?
None
What is Carolina Ruellia's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Carolina Ruellia pollinated?
Insect
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