Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree
Braided Ruellia Tree

Braided Ruellia Tree

Ruellia brittoniana
  • Unique Braided Form: Specialty tree-style version of the classic Mexican Petunia
  • Brilliant Purple Flowers: Blooms nearly year-round in warm climates
  • Hardy & Adaptable: Thrives in full sun, drought-tolerant, and hardy in Zones 8–11
$59.99
/

You may also like

The Braided Ruellia Tree (Ruellia brittoniana)—also called the Mexican Petunia Tree or Ruellia Purple Showers—is a stunning tropical plant trained into an ornamental tree with braided stems and a crown of vivid purple flowers. A unique twist on the classic Mexican Petunia, this tree-form version blooms from spring through fall, drawing attention with its color and structure. Hardy in USDA Zones 8–11, drought-tolerant, and pet friendly, the Braided Ruellia Tree thrives in full sun and adapts well to both landscapes and containers. Explore our Mexican Petunia plants for sale today and bring home a rare braided form that transforms patios and gardens.

Braided Ruellia Tree Highlights

Braided Trunk: Specialty tree form adds height and tropical structure

Purple Blooms: Vibrant blossoms from spring through fall

Sun-Loving & Hardy: Thrives in USDA Zones 8–11 with minimal care

Container Ready: Perfect patio specimen or landscape accent

Pet Friendly: Safe for cats and dogs

Nursery Fresh: Shipped from our Florida nursery in 3 Gallon containers

Ruellia Plant Care

The Mexican Petunia Tree grows best in full sun, producing the strongest color and blooms. Water regularly during the growing season, but once established, it tolerates drought and occasional flooding. Hardy in zones 8–11, this adaptable plant thrives in garden beds, borders, or containers. Prune to maintain its tree shape and deadhead flowers for continuous color.

Sunlight: Full sun for best flowering

Watering: Keep evenly moist during growth; drought-tolerant once mature

Soil: Adaptable to most soils, prefers well-draining

Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring/summer

Hardiness: USDA Zones 8–11 outdoors

Light: Place in bright sun indoors if overwintering

Watering: Water when top inch dries; reduce in winter

Humidity: Average indoor humidity is sufficient

Temperature: Keep above 55°F; overwinter containers indoors in cold zones

Pruning: Trim to maintain braided tree shape

Repotting: Refresh soil every 2–3 years in containers

Pests: Rarely affected, but monitor for aphids

Maintenance Tip: Mulch in winter for root protection in cooler climates

Mexican Petunia Plant Care Guide

Expert Grower’s Tips for the Braided Ruellia Tree

Advice from our growing experts

Sun Makes the Color

Sun Makes the Color

Plant in full sun to maximize purple flower production and achieve dark purple stems.

Prune for Shape

Prune for Shape

Light pruning after flowering helps maintain the ornamental tree form and encourages more blooms.

Container Advantage

Container Advantage

Growing your braided Ruellia in a container makes overwintering easy in cooler climates.

These tips are based on 30+ years of professional growing experience at our Florida nursery.

Braided Ruellia Tree FAQ

Plant in full sun to partial shade, water regularly during growth, and prune to maintain the braided trunk shape. Hardy in zones 8–11, it thrives in both landscapes and containers.

Mexican Petunias are generally deer-resistant, making them a good choice for gardens in deer-prone areas.

In cold regions, prune back after frost and mulch the root zone for protection. Container-grown plants can be brought indoors to overwinter.

Yes! The Braided Ruellia Tree thrives in containers, which is ideal for patios or for moving indoors during winter. Ensure good drainage and plenty of sun.

We offer Braided Ruellia Trees for sale in 3 Gallon containers, shipped fresh from our Florida nursery (excluding AK & HI). Order online today to buy a Mexican Petunia tree and enjoy this unique braided form.

Hear it from them

★★★★★

WOW!!! This is a real milkweed plant, healthy as all get up! Well packaged! Love that it's a Plant Box!!! Delivery person can see clearly that they should handle safely and deliver it asap!!! My caterpillars will have lots of food so they can grow to be beautiful Monarchs 😍

Ingi
New Bern, NC
★★★★★

Tropical Plant came through with the shipping. I ordered this plant the night of July 24th it was shipped 25, 2025 and delivered July 27th...OUTSTANDING! The Thai Constellation I ordered arrived in awesome condition. Very healthy and lush. Suffice it to say I will be ordering from this shop again. Top notch across the board.

William
Galveston, TX
★★★★★

This shop has the most fantastic, healthy, gorgeous plants. I am a repeat customer and have never been disappointed. In fact the plants have always exceeded my expectation and plants are often much larger than expected. Packaging is some of the most professional I've seen, with not one leaf damaged. I'll be back for more.

Kelly
Phoenix, AZ
★★★★★

Beautiful healthy plant and great size too! This is my first purchase and I couldn’t be happier. Now I need the tree version. Thank you for such a great plant.

Paula
Chicago, IL
★★★★★

Okay so if you are looking for a happy healthy plant. This is who to get it from. It has already started blooming again. I've already had two neighbors ask where I got it from and referred them to you. Cannot recommend this seller enough

Philip
Crofton, MD
★★★★★

Gorgeous plant, arrived perfect and healthy. I keep coming back as this nursery delivers perfection every time. Very quick shipping and expertly packed. The best!!

large croton petra plant for sale #size_3-gallon
Hilary
Bellingham, WA