Ruellia humilis

An excellent long-blooming groundcover or "knitter" for informal borders and wildflower plantings, wild petunia produces intermittent flushes of funnel-shaped lavender blooms from late spring through summer.  Plants spread both vegetatively and by self-sowing, so give them elbow room.  "Wild" (as in native) in much of the eastern and central U.S., Ruellia humilis is in no way related to petunias, other than in the general form of the flowers.

Full sun to light shade; average to dry soil (drought tolerant); 2'x2'; late spring to fall; Zone 4

Propagated from seed; deep 3.5-inch pots

Photo: wallygrom