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Ruellia drummondiana (Drummond's ruellia)
Waitt, Damon E.

Ruellia drummondiana (Nees) Gray

Drummond's ruellia, Drummond's wild petunia

Acanthaceae (Acanthus Family)

USDA Symbol: rudr

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The species name of this plant is named for Thomas Drummond, (ca. 1790-1835), naturalist, born in Scotland, around 1790. In 1830 he made a trip to America to collect specimens from the western and southern United States. In March, 1833, he arrived at Velasco, Texas to begin his collecting work in that area. He spent twenty-one months working the area between Galveston Island and the Edwards Plateau, especially along the Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe rivers. His collections were the first made in Texas that were extensively distributed among the museums and scientific institutions of the world. He collected 750 species of plants and 150 specimens of birds. Drummond had hoped to make a complete botanical survey of Texas, but he died in Havana, Cuba, in 1835, while making a collecting tour of that island.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Pubescence: Puberulent
Leaf Margin: Undulate
Leaf Apex: Obtuse
Leaf Base: Cuneate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Leaf: dark-green above
Flower: Flowers 42 mm long
Fruit: 1 cm
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Habitat: Woodlands edge, Opening, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Drummonds wild petunia grows handsome lavender flowers throughout the summer. Cut back old bloom stalks in the winter. It has taller flowers and is taller than Wild petunia.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Blooms ornamental, Perennial garden
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Common buckeye
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Ruellia drummondiana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Common Buckeye
(Junonia coenia)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division
Maintenance: Maintain moist soil, Fertilize in spring with rose food

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ruellia drummondiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ruellia drummondiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ruellia drummondiana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-03-21
Research By: TWC Staff, JSC

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