Ruellia brittoniana
Common: Purple ruellia, Common ruellia, Mexican barrio ruellia, Desert petunia
Family: Acanthaceae
Origin/Range: Mexico, SW US, naturalized in many areas
Light: Best in full sun, handles shade
Hardy: Below 32°F tip dieback seen; dies to ground in mid 20s, recovers rapidly
Water: Regular, drought tolerant
Soil: Adaptable
Evergreen perennial shrub.
To 3ft with equal spread; low branches will droop over and root. Leaves are linear, lancolate, serrate, prominent purple venation.
Flowers appear in leaf axils, 2in long funnel-shaped purple or blue flowers from mid-spring until frost. Purple stems.
Needs to be constrained by container or spreads like a weed, trim to keep in bounds.