This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Wild Petunia
Ruellia humilis
PerennialWild Petunia
Ruellia humilis
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Full Sun
Water
Dry
Soil
Sandy
Size
1-2'
Bloom
Lavender, Jun–Aug
Why Grow It
Drought Tolerant
Thrives with little water once established
Long Blooming
Flowers for many weeks through the season
Caterpillar Host
Feeds caterpillars of native moths & butterflies
Easy to Grow
Low maintenance & beginner friendly
Did You Know?
Each flower lasts only a single day, but the plant produces new blooms continuously from late spring through fall.
It is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly — look for caterpillars on the leaves.
Despite the common name, Wild Petunia is not related to garden petunias at all; it belongs to the Acanthus family.
Wildlife Value
🦋
Common Buckeye Butterfly
Larval host plant for caterpillars
🐝
Long-tongued Bees
Tubular flowers attract specialist pollinators
🐦
Sparrows
Eat small seeds from dried capsules
Good Companions
🌼 Hoary Vervain
🌾 Little Bluestem
💜 Sky Blue Aster
🌸 Goat's Rue
Planting Guide
- Plant in full sun to light shade in dry soil.
- Space 12 inches apart; tolerates poor, rocky ground.
- Water sparingly once established; very drought tolerant.
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li