What is this perennial plant which survives in the Sonoran Desert naturally?

Question

Plants native to the Sonoran Desert require watering every 6 months. The following perennial plant, which I am not sure is native to the Sonoran Desert, was found to thrive in the Sonoran Desert solely off rain. What is this plant?

(not flowering yet)

@pnuts That seems to have a different coloration. The plant in my picture has a change in color (greenish brown → darker brown) where the branches bifurcate. — Geremia, May 30 '17 at 03:54
It's a very young plant (<2 years old). Perhaps the desert climate stressed/discolored it? — Geremia, May 30 '17 at 04:01

J. Musser · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-01T17:50:41.627

1

This appears to be Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex). Should eventually have small, blue/purple petunia-like trumpet shaped flowers. The plant I have pictured has not been grown in desert climates.

edited Sep 01 '17 at 17:50

answered Aug 31 '17 at 16:18

J. Musser

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What is this perennial plant which survives in the Sonoran Desert naturally?

1 Answers1