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19250 S Ellsworth Rd
Queen Creek, AZ 85142

Desert Ruellia

Ruellia peninsularis

Light

Water

Low water once established; water deeply, then allow soil to dry between waterings. Supplemental summer irrigation improves foliage and flowering.

Size

3-4 ft tall × 3-4 ft wide

Habit

Toxicity

Not Established

Description

A heat-tolerant shrub native to Baja California, with small green leaves and lavender-purple flowers well suited to Phoenix desert gardens.

Bloom Time

Spring through fall; heaviest bloom in warm months.

Deciduous / Evergreen

Special Features

Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance

Growth Rate

Growth Habit

Mature Size

3-4 ft tall × 3-4 ft wide

Flower Color

Foliage Color

Landscape Use

Border / Bed, Desert / Xeriscape, Foundation Planting, Hedge / Screen, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden

Garden Style

Arizona Native, Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Formal, Pollinator / Wildlife

Soil

Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained

Companion Plants

Blackfoot daisy, Brittlebush, Desert marigold, Parry's agave, Red yucca

Not Established

Not established — verify

Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to partial shade; flowers best with ample sunlight.

Water: Low water once established; water deeply, then allow soil to dry between waterings. Supplemental summer irrigation improves foliage and flowering.

Soil: Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or loamy soil; tolerates alkaline desert soils. Avoid persistently wet conditions.

Mature size: 3–4 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide.

Bloom: Primarily spring through fall, with occasional flowers during mild winter weather.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in mild winters; may lose leaves or suffer stem damage during freezes.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with supplemental irrigation.