Most of you are going to shudder when I say this--but I really like my pink Ruellia! I know, they are SO invasive! The speaker in my MG class yesterday said that if you are really quiet you can hear the flowers spitting out seeds.
I only had one large plant last year, and of course now I have several volunteers in all different locations in the backyard. But..I love that cottage garden look, so I am ok with them popping up. I need their pretty color, especially this time of the year.
They add a backdrop to other flowers in my garden. And if I see one coming up that I really don't want to live there, I just pull it up. Of course I garden in a really small space. I know this is not practical for everyone. And I also know that next year I may be singing a different song, but this year I am really loving them.
Their pink color adds such a soft touch to my hot backyard. Oh, and another thing that makes ruellia one I love--in all this over 100 degree heat and no rain...they never wilt, they continue to bloom, and they haven't complained one time about the hot sun bearing down on them. In my book, that makes them a keeper!
Most of you are going to shudder when I say this--but I really like my pink Ruellia! I know, they are SO invasive! The speaker in my MG class yesterday said that if you are really quiet you can hear the flowers spitting out seeds.
I only had one large plant last year, and of course now I have several volunteers in all different locations in the backyard. But..I love that cottage garden look, so I am ok with them popping up. I need their pretty color, especially this time of the year.
They add a backdrop to other flowers in my garden. And if I see one coming up that I really don't want to live there, I just pull it up. Of course I garden in a really small space. I know this is not practical for everyone. And I also know that next year I may be singing a different song, but this year I am really loving them.
Their pink color adds such a soft touch to my hot backyard. Oh, and another thing that makes ruellia one I love--in all this over 100 degree heat and no rain...they never wilt, they continue to bloom, and they haven't complained one time about the hot sun bearing down on them. In my book, that makes them a keeper!
18 comments:
Beautiful garden.
I'm a beginner but fan of gardening. Welcome to my blog too.
Hi GreenGarden Mom!
I am so glad you are starting to garden. You will never be sorry. The garden is a place of peace, and a way to let the stress just fade away. So many problems have been solved by digging in the dirt! :)
Hey sometimes those are the kinds of plants that keep the garden looking pretty. Plus with those kinds of attributes who could blame you for letting them do their thing. :)
I couldn't agree with you more Racquel!! :)
I've often admired them but shied away not because it is invasive-because I don't think it is hardy here. Most pretty though!
Tina, your gardens are too big to try and control these. I think that is why they work for me--I only have a small space to keep. They are really pretty!
I don't have the pink ones but I'm very happy of my purple ones. Have you seen the dwarf variety? They come in pink, purple and white.
Susie, yes I have seen the dwarf and thought that is what I had, but I really do like the taller ones. I knew they came in purple, but did not know about the white. I think I would like some white! :)
I have never seen this one before but it caught my eye when you said it loves the heat and will survive drought season. I had to look her up on the internet to see what other names she may use. I found Mexican Petunia and also found out they are invasive to the point they are on the watch list in Florida where they are taking over native plants. I would love to have some of this in my garden in the area that stays moist in the winter and late spring. She may do well even when this area is bone dry in the summer. I would love to give her a chance in my garden but not sure she would survive our cooler then FL.& TX Winters…
Of course, I didn't know what that pink flower/plant was, but I've always enjoyed it around my neighborhood....and now I know why it's around the neighbor so...lol. Glad to see the MG mention, hope that is going well! Mom is very excited about your MG work.
Skeeter, usually everyone hates this plant because it is so invasive. I have such a small garden I can easily control it, but I could see where a large area might be impossible. The plants are annuals and go completely away during winter, but they are heavy bloomers and re-seed from all those tons of flowers! We had a pretty cold winter this past year-with snow, and here they are. They don't seem to mind the heat and drought conditions at all, but just beware they are invasive. Tina said she shied away from them for that reason.
Hi JJ! I think there are quite a few of these in our area. Really pretty plants, but they sure are heavy re-seeders!
MG class is fun and going well, but not easy. Lots of studying and learning things that are kind of hard for an old brain! :) Thanks for asking--miss you guys!
I thought I recognized that bloom. I have one but in a pot. Even my small city lot could not stand much of that. I do like it. The bloom is pretty. I had heard that it was on a list of invasive plants here in Fl. It was a pass-a-long.
Lola-it's probably on that same list here in Texas, but so far I have been able to control it by pulling up the young ones that I don't want. It is a pretty flower and being so tolerant of this heat really helps my garden out this time of year.
Hum, I wonder if the deer would eat it. They would keep in under control in my garden...
Skeeter, I tried to find out for you if they are deer resistant, but nothing I read said they were. Tina would probably know for sure. Let me see if I can figure out how to collect the seeds and I will send them to you.
I've never heard of that plant. It reminds me of a pink daylily. Pretty, even if it is invasive. You are right about autumn in Ohio, it's fabulous. Believe me, I'll be posting pix when the time comes. But don't rush things. Autumn is beautiful, but there is another dreaded season that follows it. Blah.
I agree with you 100% about the ruellia! I have it everywhere (it's impossible not to, right?) I've had the purple for years, just added pink this year. And I, too prefer the tall. Last year I tried the short/dwarf ones in white, blue and pink. The cold weather killed the white and pink, so now I have only the purple in dwarf, but it doesn't make the statement that the tall does.
I cringe as I hear the seeds popping, knowing I'll be pulling it up by the handfuls next year. You are right, though, you just yank it up wherever you don't want it, so I don't know why people complain about it being invasive. Even I am not too lazy to yank plants out of the ground; they pull up easier than weeds!
Hope you are enjoying the MG classes!
Hi Nola! Yep, I think this is a keeper and one that I don't mind pulling out where it is unwanted!
The MG classes are going great--hard--but ok! Thanks for asking. I know you understand how tired my brain is from all the reading and remembering since you just went through this. :)
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