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Marcus, Joseph A.

Ruellia metziae

Ruellia metziae Tharp

White Ruellia, Metz's Wild Petunia, Metz Wild Petunia, Wild White Petunia

Acanthaceae (Acanthus Family)

Synonym(s): Ruellia metziae var. marshii, Ruellia muelleri

USDA Symbol: RUME

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

From the Image Gallery

14 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Violet
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Usually white, occasionally pale violet.

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Habitat: Found in limestone outcrops, gravel, thickets and open woods. Distributed mainly in Lampasas Cut Plain south and southwest to central Texas and Edwards Plateau.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Conditions Comments: This particular plant loves to be neglected and lives naturally in open woods, fields, prairies, and gravel areas. It takes very little water to survive and thrives through hot Texas summers. Blooms heavily in summer.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0070 Collected July 21 1990 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps
NPSOT 0564 Collected Jul 14, 1988 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0252 Collected July 11, 1992 in Kendall County by Kristina Coates

3 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-02
Research By: NPC, LJU

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