Katie ruellia low mound of narrow dark green leaves with purple trumpet flowers in a garden bed

Katie Ruellia (Purple)

Ruellia simplex 'Katie'
Categories:
Perennials  ·  
Perennials
Light
Full sun
Water
Moderate water for best flowering. Water deeply, then let the upper soil dry slightly; irrigate more frequently during extreme heat. Tolerates brief drought once established.
Size
1-2 ft tall × 1-2 ft wide
Habit
Perennial clump
Toxicity
Not Established
Description
A compact, dwarf Mexican petunia with narrow green leaves and abundant purple, trumpet-shaped flowers. Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’ is also sold as Ruellia simplex ‘Katie’.
Bloom Time
Spring through fall
Deciduous / Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Perennial clump
Mature Size
1-2 ft tall × 1-2 ft wide
Flower Color
Purple
Foliage Color
Dark green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Groundcover, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Amended / Rich, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Autumn sage, Bulbine, Dwarf red yucca, Lantana, Society garlic
Not Established
Not established — verify
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps reduce stress in Phoenix’s intense summer heat.

Water: Moderate water for best flowering. Water deeply, then let the upper soil dry slightly; irrigate more frequently during extreme heat. Tolerates brief drought once established.

Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates sandy, loamy, and alkaline soils. Incorporate compost into very poor soil and avoid persistently waterlogged conditions.

Mature size: 10–12 inches tall and 12–24 inches wide.

Bloom: Spring through fall, often into early winter in frost-protected Phoenix locations.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; may become semi-evergreen or die back during freezes, usually regrowing from the roots in spring.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth and regular irrigation.