Ruellia affinis, Ruellia elegans

This is a rare winter blooming tropical ruellia with showy 2 inch wide scarlet flowers. Unusual for a ruellia, this is a vining shrub. Pinching out shoot tips will cause it to throw out lateral stems to form a more bushy plant to 3 feet. But, it also can be trained up a support to grow more vinelike. It blooms on older ripened growth. So give it time, light shade, adequate moisture, and warm temperatures. It sports 5 inch short-petioled elliptic leaves. Native to Bahia, Brazil, where it is found in moist forests.

Ruellia chartacea, Ruellia colorata

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Very rare species. Brilliant scarlet bracts color for Christmas, and stays bright carmine several months; stout branched shrub of easy greenhouse culture. Does well in a semi-shade environment, must be pruned once or twice a year to keep it compact and bushy. Once the foliage is well developed, add a handful of flowering fertilizer to encourage flowering.

Ruellia devosiana

Ruellia elegans

Ruellia is a genus of very hardy, well-adapted flowers, or extremely invasive plants, depending on the climate and a gardener's tolerances. They are perennials and, as the seed pods dry, they spring open, casting seeds several feet. With a high germination rate, small colonies can spread fairly rapidly. Ruellia elegans producing deep red tubular blooms from late spring to fall. A very tough a durable perennial which spreads slowly and will create a groundcover in time. It seems to perform best in a loose rich fertile soil, and is fairly drought tolerant once established. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Ruellia macrantha

The common name refers to the fact that its large, deep pink, trumpet flowers are in full bloom during the southern hemisphere Christmas. They are 3" long with darker veins and appear from fall to winter. Prefers fertile soil with moisture, but is very adaptable. Can be grown indoors as a houseplant in bright light.

Ruellia makoyana, Dipteracanthus makoyanus, Dipteracanthus devosianus

A spreading perennial that is usually grown as a house or terrarium plant.

Ruellia multisetosa, Suessenguthia multisetosa

Suessenguthia is still a very rare plant. It is a large shrub with green herbaceous branches and bright pink flowers in spring through summer. Leaves are large, hairy and dark green. It can grow to about 10ft tall but needs some support, because the stems are very fragile. Freezes to the ground about 27-28F but comes back quick. The cuttings root very easily. The plant likes part sun or shade and moist soil. In full sun leaves get pale and the plant dehydrates easily. It is a nice unusual plant to should be more widely grown.

Ruellia nudiflora

Ruellia peninsularis

Small glossy green leaves, deep blue bell shaped flowers nearly all year.

This is a very popular landscaping plant in Arizona and it is considered an evergreen shrub.

Ruellia portellae

Ruellia portellae is very similar to Ruellia makoyana. R. makoyana is a little more compact and has slightly brighter carmine flowers than R. portellae.