Sun or partial shade; herbaceous, often freezing back in winter. ‘Katie’ is a low-growing Mexican petunia branching from the ground with woody stems and long willow-like leaves. Flowers are purple (‘Katie’) or pink (‘Bonita’). This dwarf form of Mexican petunia was first noticed in a nursery in Conroe, TX and makes a hardy low groundcover for shaded areas.
The wild form of Mexican petunia has the same flowers but grows tall and thin, up to four feet; it is famously invasive, overrunning other garden plants by the roots and escaping from yards into creekways. Some gardeners report that even the dwarf ‘Katie’ eventually reverts to the parent form when it propagates.
Appreciates some supplemental summer water; grooming, especially in winter when dead tissues can be pruned as needed. Expect ‘Katie’ to spread, even among bricks and concrete if there’s enough moisture. Pull or grub as needed to keep it from spreading into other plants’ root zones.
