Every year I add a new host plant to the garden in the effort to attract more butterflies to their designated space. I was happy to see my favorite native garden center had wild petunia during my last visit. This is a host plant for the common buckeye butterfly.

The wait now begins.

But in the meantime, I am enjoying this beautiful plant grow and thrive.

This flower is part of the acanthaceae family and ruellia genus. They can grow to one to feet high and need about six to 12 inches of spacing.

The native flower has been said to bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall, adding a beautiful color of purple to my landscape. The best part is once they are established, I have read that they are pretty drought-tolerant, which is wonderful because my Southwest Florida garden is experiencing a very severe drought this year.

I have also read that they reseed enabling them to come back year after year.

I have started my garden with two and they are as happy as can be in full sun. I have read that these plants can be propagated by either stem cuttings, dividing larger clusters, and of course by seed. I may have to try cutting a healthy stem of four to six inches long and putting in water to get new roots to grow.