Perennial Petunia

Today’s Plant of the Week is seldom used but always adored when making its ephemeral blooms burst on the scene in June and persist through the summer. Wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) lives throughout the Midwest in well drained prairies and open spaces. The attractive leaves grow from hairy dark maroon stems and are interspersed with cheerful blossoms that last just a day or two but keep on coming through the summer. This delightful native makes for a lovely medium height (20″) border plant and, given the chance, will self seed in nooks and crannies with glee in sunny locations.