Trying to post actual images...

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Craig.

The leaves look like ruellia, but mine has never bloomed so I can't say for sure.

This is the Mexican version, Ruellia brittoniana, it is an annual here, I believe.

Good pictures. Esh and Sugar Hill are correct. I have been calling it Mexican Petunia.

Thanks guys. I'll do some research on "Ruellia brittoniana" and see what I come up with. I sure hope it's not an annual in Atlanta though.

Craig.

I also am pretty sure this particular Ruellia is annual - there are other, less spectacular, ones which are perennial and I think a bit weedy here. The flowers on R. britonniana only last a day and drop by evening, but it seems very vigorous and free-flowering. Perfect for a big pot in sun - mine has now completely filled the pot with roots, needs watering every day, but flowers on beautifully.

This comes in a pretty pink too! There is a curving bed of it where I work that is right up against a brick wall in hot sun. It blooms well in that location.

It may be an annual but it does come back, both by seed and by the roots. I have had the taller version for two winters and the 6" version for three winters, without any special care. Maybe I would protect them if we had a real hard freeze. The small ones are really, really prolific. Maybe in ten years I will say they are invasive, but right now I am loving them.

My ruellias (I have 3 types of short ones, and three types of tall ones - all South American/mexican) are hardy as bullets here. They die back in the winter, but multiply underground and come back gorgeously in the spring.

GGG

I concur with GGG - this plant has been growing with me for more than 5 years - it takes its sweet time to wake up each spring, but once it does, watch out. Great plant!