Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Katie Purple
Katie Purple is the original Katie dwarf ruellia, with violet-blue petunia-like flowers over a low mound of long, narrow dark green leaves. It stays about a foot tall, so it edges beds, fronts borders and fills small spaces. Flowers keep coming from late spring until frost without deadheading. It grows in full sun or part shade, and butterflies and bees visit it.
Best for: edging beds and walks, the front of a border, mass plantings of violet-blue, and small spaces or pots in sun or light shade.
At about a foot tall it sits in front of taller shrubs without hiding them. Set plants about 2 feet apart along the front edge.
Its low, clumping mounds edge a walk or bed neatly. Violet-blue flowers keep coming from late spring until frost with no deadheading.
It fits small beds and containers, in sun or light shade. In the Valley it does best with some light shade.
Frost burns the tops back in a cold winter. Seedlings that come up in moist soil can grow into the tall form, so pull them.
- Plant to plant2-3 ft apart, center to center
- Edging or front border2 ft apart, center to center
Water every few days at first, then stretch the time between soaks over the first two months. Water deeply and let the top of the soil dry before the next soak.
It handles drought once rooted but flowers best with regular water in summer. Water less in winter, and do not keep the soil soggy.
Frost can blacken the tops, but the roots take about 10 to 15°F. Cut it back in late winter to clear the damage and push new growth.
Seedlings can come up in moist soil and grow into the tall, spreading form. Pull them when you see them.
In the Valley it does best with some afternoon or light shade. More sun means more flowers, but too much shade makes it floppy.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Katie Purple get?
It grows about a foot tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, in a low, clumping mound. Use it at the front of a border, where it will not hide taller plants.
How far apart should I plant Katie Purple?
Plant them about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. Use 2 feet for edging or a front border, and see the Spacing tab for both options.
When does Katie Purple bloom?
It blooms from late spring until the first frost. Each flower lasts a day, but new ones open all season, so there is no need to deadhead.
Katie Purple vs tall purple ruellia: what is the difference?
Both are Mexican petunia with violet flowers. Katie is the dwarf form, about a foot tall, and it spreads far less. Tall purple ruellia reaches 2 to 4 feet and spreads by seed and runners.
Does Katie Purple spread?
It spreads much less than the tall form, but it is not sterile and can set some seed. Seedlings in moist soil can grow tall, so pull them when you see them.
Sun or shade for Katie Purple?
It grows in full sun or part shade. In the Valley it does best with some light shade, while deep shade means fewer flowers.
How often should I water Katie Purple?
Give it moderate water, with deep, regular soaks through summer and less in winter. It handles some drought once rooted, but it blooms best with regular summer water. Do not keep the soil soggy.
Will Katie Purple come back after a freeze?
Yes. Frost damages the tops, but the roots take about 10 to 15°F. Cut it back in late winter to clear the damage and push new growth.
Can I grow Katie Purple in a pot?
Yes. It is a good container plant for patios. Set a pot by a patio or entry for close-up color.
Does it attract butterflies and bees?
Yes. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers. Plant it in sun or light shade near a patio to watch them.
Do deer eat Katie Purple?
Deer usually leave it alone, so it is a safe pick where deer visit.
Is Katie Purple evergreen?
Yes. In a mild winter it keeps its dark green leaves all year. Frost burns the tops, and it regrows from the roots in spring.
Katie Purple for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Katie Purple (Ruellia simplex 'Katie') is the original Katie dwarf ruellia, a foot-tall Mexican petunia with violet-blue flowers. It blooms from late spring until frost in full sun or part shade. Below: size, spacing, bloom, water, frost, spreading and how it compares with tall purple ruellia.
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Katie Purple dwarf ruellia in Arizona
Katie Purple is the original Katie dwarf ruellia. It forms a low mound about a foot tall with long, narrow dark green leaves and violet-blue flowers from late spring until frost.
How far apart to plant Katie ruellia
Plant Katie Purple about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. Use 2 feet for edging or the front of a border.
Katie dwarf ruellia vs Mexican petunia
Katie is the dwarf form of Mexican petunia, about a foot tall, and it spreads far less. Tall purple ruellia grows 2 to 4 feet and spreads by seed and runners.
Watering Katie Purple in Phoenix
Give it moderate water through the year. It handles some drought once rooted, but regular summer water gives the most flowers.
Katie Purple after a freeze
Frost damages the tops, but the roots take about 10 to 15°F. Cut it back in late winter and it regrows.
Katie Purple in sun or shade
It grows in full sun or part shade. In the Valley it does best with some light shade, and deep shade cuts down on flowers.
Does Katie ruellia need deadheading?
No. Each flower lasts about a day, and new ones keep opening all season without deadheading.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.