Hi everyone,

My first post in this forum. It is nice to meet you.

I found this plant in my garden today. I don't remember planting it, so I guess it was a bird-dropping gift. Does it look familiar to you?

It has a cute purple flower, I hope it is not a thug.

Joseph

Welcome, @Gerris2! It's nice to see you here!
I was thinking it looked a bit like my wild petunia, Ruellia ciliosa aka Ruellia humilis!
Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis subsp. ciliosa)

And, Gerris2.

Always nice when a friendly and attractive plant volunteers in the garden and this one is host plant to the Common Buckeye butterfly too, it says at that link to the database. Looks like a match to me.

I have a patch of Plantago Major that is also a Buckeye host plant but also considered a weed by most people. I've gotten so interested in butterflies I am trying to accumulate host plants for them so I am leaving that plantain (though I expect it's probably more thuggish than the Ruellia.)

I've been accumulating butterfly host plants, too! No Buckeye sightings for me, though--although I just saw my first tiger swallowtail in my yard for the season! So excited!

Thanks so much! It does match the description of Ruellia ciliosa! Awesome!!

I really like my wild petunia and have not found it at all thuggish!

Joseph, Beautiful Avatar you have there.

Thanks, Holly, it is a cultivar of Ipomoea nil called Blue Silk. It is one of my all-time favorites.

It is very beautiful, Joseph!

I use to grow morning glories but haven't for a couple of years now. Maybe next year.