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 December
1999
 Ruellia
'Black Beauty'
 November
1999
Daphne
arbuscula
October
1999
Tulipa
schrenkii
September
1999
Machaeranthera
colorodoensis
August
1999
Veronica
spicata nana
July
1999
Campanula
garganica
June
1999
Saponaria
X Olivana
May
1999
Phlox
bifida
April
1999
Aethionema
oppositifolium
March
1999
Cyclamen
coum
February
1999
Moneses
uniflora
January
1999
Eritrichum
nanum
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Plant
of the Month
December
1999
Ruellia 'Black
Beauty'
by Alexej Borkovec
Ruellia
'Black Beauty' is a cultivar, possibly a hybrid, of
unknown origin belonging to the family Acanthacae. The genus
Ruellia contains some 250 species of mostly tropical and
subtropical plants; however, a few hardy species are native
to the U.S.A. The most common of these is Ruellia humilis, a
rather tall (20-60 cm) and somewhat weedy plant, sometimes
called 'false petunia', owing to the appearance and crinkled
surface of its blossoms. Ruellia
'Black Beauty' has similar flowers, but it is only 3
- 10 cm tall and its foliage is dark bronze, often almost
black. It is a perfect rock garden plant.
Ruellia
'Black Beauty' is easy to grow in almost any soil. It
requires full sun and withstands short periods of drought.
The pale lilac or white flowers, that last only one or two
days, start appearing in August and continue until early
October, but seeds don't ripen before late fall. It
self-sows sparingly. Seed is the usual means of propagation.
The central rosette stem becomes woody and cannot be
divided. When side shoots develop, cuttings might possibly
be taken.
Ruellia
'Black Beauty' has survived in USDA Zone 7a with a
minimum temperature of -18 C (0 F) with no damage. It has
not been tried in colder climates, as yet.
Several
names have been suggested for this plant: Ruellia ciliosa
'depressed form', Ruellia caroliniana succulenta, and
Ruellia caroliniensis succulenta. However, the exact
identity and parentage of Ruellia
'Black Beauty' remains unknown.
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