Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Katie White
Katie White is the white form of Katie dwarf ruellia. Clean white, petunia-like flowers sit on a low clump of long, narrow dark green leaves about a foot tall. Planted in a group it makes a low white groundcover for narrow beds and borders, and it works in pots too. It blooms from spring into fall in sun or part shade, and bees come to it.
Best for: low white mass plantings, groundcover in narrow beds, edging along borders, and pots in sun or light shade.
Plant a group about 2 feet apart, and the clumps grow into a low sweep of green dotted with white flowers. It blooms from spring into fall.
It stays about a foot tall, so it works as a groundcover in tight, narrow spaces. It also fits along the front of a bed.
Use it to edge a bed or border, or plant it in a pot. It is a good container plant and needs no deadheading.
Frost burns the tops in a cold winter, so it looks rough until you cut it back. In moist soil, seedlings can sprout that grow into the tall form, so pull them when you see them.
- Plant to plant2-3 ft apart, center to center
- Mass planting or groundcover2 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 White get?
It grows about a foot tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, in a low, clumping mound. Use it as a groundcover or edging in narrow beds.
How far apart should I plant Katie White?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center, or 2 feet apart for a mass planting or groundcover. The Spacing tab has the numbers.
When does Katie White bloom?
It blooms from spring into fall, until the first frost. Each flower lasts about a day, but new ones keep opening all season.
Can Katie White grow in shade?
It grows in full sun or part shade, and in Phoenix it does best with some light shade. Deep shade means fewer flowers.
How much water does Katie White need?
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 White survive a freeze?
Frost damages the tops, but the roots take about 10 to 15°F. Cut it back in late winter, and it regrows in spring.
Is Katie White invasive like Mexican petunia?
It spreads far less than the tall Mexican petunia. The Katie dwarfs are not sterile, though, and can set some seed, so pull seedlings you do not want.
What are the tall plants coming up in my Katie White bed?
Seedlings that sprout in moist soil can grow into the taller Mexican petunia form. Pull them to keep the bed low.
Does Katie White need deadheading?
No. It keeps flowering without deadheading, so you can leave spent flowers alone.
What is the difference between Katie White, Katie Pink and Katie Purple?
All three share the same low size, spacing and care. The only difference is the flower color, which is white, pink or violet-blue. Pick the color you like, or mix them in one bed.
Does it attract bees?
Yes. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers. Plant it in sun or light shade near a patio to watch them.
Is Katie White 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 White for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Katie White (Ruellia simplex 'Katie White'), also sold as white dwarf ruellia or 'Blanca', is a foot-tall Mexican petunia with white flowers. It suits mass plantings and narrow beds in sun or part shade. Below you will find its size, spacing, bloom, water, frost and seedlings, and how it compares with the pink and purple Katie.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
What is Katie White dwarf ruellia?
Katie White is the white form of Katie dwarf ruellia. It grows into a low clump about a foot tall with long, narrow dark green leaves and white petunia-like flowers from spring into fall.
How far apart do you plant Katie White?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. Use 2 feet for a mass planting or groundcover in a narrow bed.
Can Katie White be used as a groundcover?
Yes. At about a foot tall, it works as a groundcover for narrow beds and borders. Planted 2 feet apart, the clumps fill in with white flowers.
How often do you water Katie White in Phoenix?
Give it moderate water through the year. It handles some drought once rooted, but regular summer water keeps the flowers coming.
Does Katie White come back after frost?
Yes. Frost damages the tops, but the roots take about 10 to 15°F. Cut it back in late winter to clear the damage.
Is white dwarf ruellia invasive?
It spreads far less than tall Mexican petunia, but it can still set seed. Seedlings in moist soil can grow tall, so pull any that appear.
Does Katie White grow in sun or shade?
It grows in full sun or part shade, and in Phoenix it does best with some light shade. Deep shade means fewer flowers.
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.