Growing Ruelia in Your Houston, Texas Garden

Also known as Wild Petunias or Mexican Petunias, Ruelia are a great choice for your Houston, Texas garden. They are easy to grow and come in an assortment of beautiful colors. You can plant Ruelia as an accent plant in your Houston, Texas garden, and it also makes a striking addition to a mixed border. Many types of Ruelia have been tested and found to be "Texas Superstars", meaning they have undergone rigorous testing in harsh environments (lack of water, lack of fertilizer, intense heat, drought, etc.) and passed with flying colors. Ruelia is a great choice for shade and woodland gardens, too. It is a reseeding perennial, and deer don't bother it at all. Most varieties bloom during the spring and summer, and the tubular blooms of Ruelia can attract both butterflies and hummingbirds to your Houston, Texas garden. This perennial does prefer well drained soil, but for the most part it will tolerate and grow in almost any type of dirt. If you think you might enjoy growing Ruelia in your own Houston, Texas garden, try planting some of the varieties below.

Katie. This beautiful Ruelia does well in both sun and shade. A Texas Superstar, it is a very hardy plant, tolerating heat, humidity, and the Houston, Texas winter as well. This Ruelia is reseeding, so you can enjoy its purple and white flowers year after year. It is a great choice for your Houston, Texas shade or woodland garden.

Pink Katie. The petunia-like blooms of this Ruelia are a beautiful color pink. Another Texas Superstar, it is disease resistant, loves heat and humidity, and survives the Houston winter easily. Plant it in full sun to bright shade in your garden, and enjoy its flowers from late spring through the fall. This Ruelia also reseeds. It is a terrific choice for mixed borders or container gardens.

Rio Red. The gorgeous red flowers of this Ruelia are sure to brighten your Houston, Texas garden. The tubular blooms will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden, and make this Ruelia a great choice for an accent plant, or to use in a mixed border. Plant it in full sun to bright shade and enjoy its blooms from spring through the first frost. It will reach heights of up to two feet in your Houston, Texas garden.

White Katie. This Texas Superstar will reseed itself in your Houston, Texas garden, bringing you lovely white flowers year after year. It does best when planted in full sun to bright shade, and is tolerant of almost any type of soil. This Ruelia is disease resistant, and survives the Houston, Texas winter without any issues. It will grow to be about twelve inches tall. White Katie Ruelia is the perfect choice for your container garden, or your Houston, Texas shade or woodland garden.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.chron.com/apps/chron_data/plants.mpl