Mexican Petunia Traditional Cache

Mexican Petunias are an invasive problem in Florida. Let's hope they'll stay contained here and not be spread by animals. Please be careful with the plants, BYOP and check cache info at the bottom of the page.

Mexican Petunia

Ruellia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as ruellias or wild petunias. They are not closely related to petunias (Petunia) although both genera belong to the same euastrid clade. 

Ruellias are popular ornamental plants. Some are used as medicinal plants, but many are known or suspected to be poisonous.

Ruellia simplex (Britton's wild petunia, Mexican petunia, Mexican bluebell) is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. It is a native of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. It has become a widespread invasive plant in Florida, where it was likely introduced as an ornamental before 1933.

Ruellia simplex is an evergreen perennial growing 3 ft (0.91 m) tall, forming colonies of stalks with lance-shaped leaves that are 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) and .5 to .75 in (1.3 to 1.9 cm) wide. Trumpet shaped flowers are metallic blue to purple, with five petals, and 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. There is a dwarf variety that is only 1 ft (0.30 m) tall.

The genus is named after French botanist Jean Ruel, while the specific name refers to the simple, not compound leaves.

These dwarfs are supposedly less apt to become invasive:

Warning

Mexican petunia is listed as a Category I invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. This means that it is "altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives". This warning applies to all parts of the state of Florida (and other areas with similar mild climates). Where hardy, the Mexican petunia excels at invading wetlands.

The cache is a tied in, camoed, "micro" pill bottle that you have to push hard to open and close. Please make sure it's closed tightly before you leave! BYOP and put back as found, rubber band, sealed plastic bag and all.