We have a delightful plant growing in Nassawadox at the Northampton Free Library Pollinator Garden called Spigelia marilandica, commonly known as Woodland Pink. Two bare root plants were acquired from White Flower Farm (Morris, CT) in late fall 2024. This month both plants are blooming. Stop by the library soon to see the red and yellow flowers.
Sources list S.marilandica as a plant native to the Eastern United States growing in hardiness zones 5 to 9. The native habitat description of open woods, shaded woods, wood edges suggests that S.marilandica
should be found growing in Virginia natural areas. It is not included in the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora. The proper voucher (herbarium) specimen to include Woodland Pink in the Virginia Flora has not been found but here’s how the plant is described on the Excluded Taxa list:
“Spigelia marilandica (L.) L. Pinkroot. This southeastern species was reported from a sight record along the Clinch River in Scott County. Relatively thorough searches in the right season were undertaken at this locality, but the plant was not found. Spigelia marilandica occurs within one km of the Virginia border in Hancock County, Tennessee and within about 10 km in Claiborne County, Tennessee, so its occurrence in the state is certainly plausible.“
As mentioned, web sources describe Woodland Pink as growing along the edges of woods in partly-sunny sites. Plants are upright in form and grow to 1½ to 2½ feet tall. The opposite leaves are dark green. Each flower is about 1½” long, consisting of a scarlet tubular corolla with 5 upper yellow lobes. This plant is attractive to hummingbirds.
Our library garden benefited from an Extension Master Gardener member suggestion of the Woodland Pink plant. This has expanded the functional support of wildlife in our garden while adding visual interest to the garden. Visit us on a Wednesday morning to meet the library garden team and learn more about the plants we support.
Sources
Access 05/14/2025
Georgia Native Plant Society
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) – GNPS
Access 05/14/2025
Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
Indian Pink | Home & Garden Information Center
Access 05/14/2024
White Flower Farm
Spigelia marilandica ‘Little Redhead’ | White Flower Farm
Bare Root planted late fall 2024.
Accessed 05/21/2025
Spigelia marilandica – Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
A description of the plant, optimal culture conditions and propagation history. Some nice photos.
Accessed 05/21/2025
Missouri Botanical Garden
www.missouribotanicalgarden.org
Concise description and many images illustrating plant form and flower color
Accessed 05/21/2025
Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
Ex
EXCLUDED TAXA Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora Current as of April 21, 2024 © Virginia Botanical Associates 2024
