Ruellia californica subsp. peninsularis
Baja Ruellia
Family Acanthaceae
Mostly evergreen shrub growing about 5x5’ with sage-green foliage. Purple, petunia-like flowers occur in warm weather. More woody than other well-known Ruellia species.
Place in full sun, even reflective heat. Can take low to moderate water when established. This plant is cold hardy to about 20° F.
Nectar insects use the flowers. Larval food plant for the following butterflies:
Malachite (Siproeta stelenes ssp. biplagiata)
Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita)
Pale-banded Crescent (Anthanassa tulcis)
Fritzgaertner's Flat (Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri)
The leaves of the baja ruellia have been used as a medicinal tea and shampoo by the Seri Indians of Sonora.
Photo by Prahlad balaji, Wikipedia
Ruellia californica subsp. peninsularis on iNaturalist
The genus Ruellia is named after John de la Ruelle of Soissons, who is the author of De natura plantarum (1536). The species, californica, referes to Baja California. The subsupecies peninsularis refers to the peninsula, where this plant is native.
Native to desert and thornscrub in Baja California Sur, and Sonora.