Strobilanthes attenuata

RHS Plant Profile

Mexican petunia

Synonyms

Strobilanthes alata
Strobilanthes urticifolia
Strobilanthes atropurpurea misapplied

Herbaceous Perennial

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A herbaceous perennial to around 60cm high, with hairy, winged stems bearing oval-shaped, toothed dark green leaves. Dense spikes of curved, tubular purple flowers are produced in late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Acanthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Strobilanthes can be evergreen or herbaceous perennials or subshrubs with simple, opposite leaves and spikes, cone-like clusters or loose panicles of tubular or funnel-shaped flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Afghanistan to Indian Subcontinent

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, fertile, well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer, in full sun or part shade. May benefit from a winter mulch in colder areas

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown at 13-18°C in spring, or by softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pinch out when young to encourage a bushy habit

Pests

May be susceptible to red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free