Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)
Wild Petunia has attractive flowers that attract long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, and leaf-cutting bees. The light purple color and funnel-like form of the diurnal flowers suggest that they may be visited by day-flying Sphinx moths and Hummingbird moths (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also the host plant for the Common Buckeye. It is a tough, adaptable plant that blooms throughout the hottest, driest times of the summer. It can be somewhat vigorous in the right place, so it performs well as a ground cover. When mature, the seeds literally explode from the plant and can supposedly travel upwards of 10 feet! Wild Petunia is considered threatened in Michigan (mnfi.anr.msu.edu).
Photo credit: Peganum (1), John Blair (2)
Wild Petunia has attractive flowers that attract long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, and leaf-cutting bees. The light purple color and funnel-like form of the diurnal flowers suggest that they may be visited by day-flying Sphinx moths and Hummingbird moths (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also the host plant for the Common Buckeye. It is a tough, adaptable plant that blooms throughout the hottest, driest times of the summer. It can be somewhat vigorous in the right place, so it performs well as a ground cover. When mature, the seeds literally explode from the plant and can supposedly travel upwards of 10 feet! Wild Petunia is considered threatened in Michigan (mnfi.anr.msu.edu).
Photo credit: Peganum (1), John Blair (2)
Wild Petunia has attractive flowers that attract long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, and leaf-cutting bees. The light purple color and funnel-like form of the diurnal flowers suggest that they may be visited by day-flying Sphinx moths and Hummingbird moths (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also the host plant for the Common Buckeye. It is a tough, adaptable plant that blooms throughout the hottest, driest times of the summer. It can be somewhat vigorous in the right place, so it performs well as a ground cover. When mature, the seeds literally explode from the plant and can supposedly travel upwards of 10 feet! Wild Petunia is considered threatened in Michigan (mnfi.anr.msu.edu).
Photo credit: Peganum (1), John Blair (2)
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Moisture: Medium to Dry
Height: 12 inches
Plant Spacing: 12-18 inches
Bloom Time: June-August
Bloom Color: Purple
Advantages: Pollinator Favorite and Great landscaping plant
Host Plant: Common Buckeye (illinoiswildflower.info)
Species of Concern: State Status: Threatened (legally protected). State Rank: Critically imperiled (mnfi.anr.msu.edu)
Complementary Plants: Bee Balm, Butterfly Milkweed, Hoary Vervain, Spotted Bee Balm
