This plant used to grow behind the waterfall feature in the backyard. It had reedlike stalks and produced purple flowers. Probably 1-2ft tall or so. The dog and some plumbing work have basically ruined the original plot and I was thinking about replanting but haven't found ID yet. There are some weeds mixed in but you can see the old taller dead stalks and some baby ones trying to regrow in the pic. Appreciate any help y'all can give me. Thanks.

Looks like possibly Mexican Petunias...have them growing around our Koi pond.waterfall feature

I believe you are correct! Thanks!

Are you sure that is it? The leaves on the Mexican petunia are pretty narrow and darker, while what you are showing in your OP are lighter and slighter wider. Maybe it is just because they are new leaves, but it may also be some other species of ruellia besides ruellia simplex (Mexican petunia)

I did have a concern about the leaves at first, but the pictures online looked so similar I discounted it. I think you are correct it could be something slightly different but it's a great starting point. Thanks to both of you.

That stuff will go crazy. Sends runners underground.

My parents planted it in their front bed and it was popping up everywhere. It was almost impossible to get rid of.

That's a salvia. To be sure, go feel the stems and they should have a squareish shape There are so many though it would be damn near impossible to tell you the species without seeing the flower.
First inclination is salvia farinacea but the old bloom stalks look too thick.

Echinacea aka purple coneflower. Comes in many shades.

Stems are squared off. Thanks. I dug through old photos and found some flowers from a year or so ago.

Looks like katie Ruella to me

Ptery83 said:

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Stems are squared off. Thanks. I dug through old photos and found some flowers from a year or so ago.

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Yeah that's not a salvia. Definitely ruelia

agswin1988 said:

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Looks like Katie Ruellia to me

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Correct.

Also, would explain why the OP thought the Mexican Petunia's flower was right as both are in the Ruellia family.

longeryak said:

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agswin1988 said:

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Looks like Katie Ruellia to me

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Correct.

Also, would explain why the OP thought the Mexican Petunia's flower was right as both are in the Ruellia family.

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Yep...it's so confusing...

GROW MEXICAN PETUNIAS (RUELLIA SIMPLEX) FOR A HEAT AND SHADE TOLERANT PERENNIAL

Yes it will. I have it behind my fountain and it's a constant battle. I've thought about just getting rid of it on numerous occasions.