A perplexed homeowner sought help from a gardening subreddit to identify and manage a problematic plant that had taken over their yard.
Photo Credit: Reddit
Photo Credit: Reddit
The photos were posted to r/WhatsThisPlant, and the subreddit quickly identified the plant as a Mexican petunia, also known as Britton’s wild petunia (Ruellia simplex). As the name suggests, it’s native to Mexico and Central America but considered invasive in several U.S. states. It was introduced in the early 1900s for its ornamental qualities but soon grew out of control.
Outside of their native range, Mexican petunias are highly damaging as they are resilient and easily spread. Like other invasives, they outcompete and overwhelm native flora for nutrients, and their roots are extremely difficult to remove entirely; even a small fragment is enough for the petunia to reestablish itself.
The thread underlines the importance of carefully selecting suitable plants for gardening. Rather than opting for pretty but harmful introduced plants, there’s always a native alternative.
For example, Texas Invasives suggests violet wild petunia or western wild petunia, among others, as better fits in some Southern states. Rewilding a yard with plants that have evolved over centuries in a particular locale offers all of the aesthetics with none of the drawbacks. Moreover, those lovely natural lawns entice pollinators — which help support our food supply — and other helpful species while saving you money and time on maintenance.
Options like xeriscaping or using turfgrass substitutes like clover or buffalo grass can reduce your water bills and cut down on labor — even if you only do a partial lawn replacement.
Mitsubishi Electric’s efficient heating and cooling HVAC solutions can help you stay comfortable no matter the weather or region. You can even regulate temperatures in each room with individually controlled all-electric heat pump systems.
With an energy-efficient, all-climate system from Mitsubishi, you can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home, receive up to $2,000 in tax credits, and get peace of mind knowing you’re choosing rigorously tested, high-quality products.
The comments on the thread were a blend of practical advice and a fair helping of sympathy. One commenter lamented: “They are all over my yard.… you never win.” ‘
Another said: “Often planted as an ornamental… then it spreads and takes over everything.”
“Be diligent in killing any that remain. I fought a multi-year battle against them because the previous homeowner had let them completely take over a large bed. It was constant the first two years and I was still catching the occasional sprout for almost four years,” advised one poster all too familiar with the plant.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
TCD Picks » Upway Spotlight
💡Upway makes it easy to find discounts of up to 60% on premium e-bike brands
Comments are closed.