Desert Petunia or Ruellia Brittoniana Grows In My Garden In Chennai

Scientific Nomenclature
Kingdom   : Plantae
Order        :  Lamiales 
Family       :  Acanthaceae
Genus        : Ruellia
Species      : brittoniana  
Common name:
English : Desert Petunia, Florida Bluebells, Mexican Petunia, Mexican Blue Bells 
Description: 
Desert petunia is an extremely tough, drought-resistant plant with a long bloom period. is a tender evergreen perennial that forms colonies of stemmy stalks standing 3 ft in height and of indeterminate width. The strong semi-woody stalks are distinctly vertical in aspect and hold attractive dark green, leaves oppositely at the nodes. The lance-shaped leaves are to 6-12 in in length and 1.3-1.9 cm wide. When grown under hot sunny conditions the foliage assumes a metallic bluish cast. The blossoms are blue, trumpet shaped and about 1.5-2 in in diameter and are borne at the tips of the stems.

Flower Colours:

Blue
Pink
White

Varieties with white, pink, and many shades of blue are available, as are dwarf versions that form clumps that are about 8-12 in in height.

•