They really aren’t “mexican petunias” of course, although I have heard them called that. The right name is Ruellia brittoniana. Although the flower does bear a resemblance to a petunia, I don’t think there is any actual relationship.
I was just photographing my wild Mexican petunias yesterday too. Nothing as pretty as this. The recent rains make the wild part of my yard (where they are rampant) look like a planned planting. I don’t have any white ones. I’ll write more when the server comes back up. The electrician is here today and all the electricity will be off.
Though called the Mexican petunia, ruellia is not related to petunias. Petunias are in the family solanaceae, making them related to tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, while the Ruellia brittoniana is in the acanthaceae family with members like the thunbergia, or black-eyed Susan vine.
Comments (8)
I feel I am looking at the real flowers!
Are they as fragrant as the American ones? They are my favorite annual! I plant them every year, and hate to see them die back!
They really aren’t “mexican petunias” of course, although I have heard them called that. The right name is Ruellia brittoniana. Although the flower does bear a resemblance to a petunia, I don’t think there is any actual relationship.
I haven’t ever noticed a fragrance.
I was just photographing my wild Mexican petunias yesterday too. Nothing as pretty as this. The recent rains make the wild part of my yard (where they are rampant) look like a planned planting. I don’t have any white ones. I’ll write more when the server comes back up. The electrician is here today and all the electricity will be off.
I have pinkish Mexican petunias. They are so pretty!
Very timely! I was with some people the other day discussing these, and had no idea what they looked like… now I do!
Ours are Blue in colot….
Though called the Mexican petunia, ruellia is not related to petunias. Petunias are in the family solanaceae, making them related to tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, while the Ruellia brittoniana is in the acanthaceae family with members like the thunbergia, or black-eyed Susan vine.
http://static.flickr.com/51/110147504_bf9e179b11.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/55/108383518_4a4014c0f0.jpg
i love the color of these flowers and they mean so much to me