Mexican Petunia

Ruellia simplex

Found in roadsides, fields and disturbed ground. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

-85

Severe harm

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 3–4 feet
Spread: 2–3 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

See native alternatives

Ruellia simplex — flower photograph — (c) Pavel Kacl, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Florida.

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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Cream, pink or white.
Similar growth form, spread, light
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Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Pink, red or white.
Similar growth form, height, light

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: May to September

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Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 39 Florida counties.

Habitats

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there. All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

11CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Ruellia

Junonia coeniaCommon Buckeye
Anartia jatrophaeWhite Peacock
Anthanassa frisiaCuban Crescent
Anthanassa texanaTexan Crescent
Junonia neildiMangrove Buckeye
Junonia zonalisCaribbean Buckeye, Tropical Buckeye, Florida Buckeye, Smoky Buckeye
Siproeta stelenesMalachite
Tripudia paraplesiaX
Tripudia rectangulaWild Petunia Seed Moth, Rectangular Tripudia
Hileithia aplicalis

Show all 11

Hileithia differentialis

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Acanthaceae
Hardiness: Zones 8a–10b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Purple

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 8a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3–4 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “2–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Ruellia brittoniana

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source