Rhexia mariana
A rhizomatous perennial forb in the Melastomataceae with pink to rose-purple four-petaled flowers, long exserted yellow stamens, and urn-shaped hypanthia, native to moist sandy habitats in the southeastern United States.
Common Names
Maryland Meadow Beauty, Pale Meadow Beauty
Summary
Maryland meadow beauty is a native Melastomataceae perennial with rhizomatous growth that forms colonies. Stems reach up to 1 m in height; leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate to ovate with serrated margins and three veins. Flowers have four petals white to pink or pale lavender, eight long yellow anthers, and an urn-shaped urn-hypanthium; bloom May–October, and the plant is bee-pollinated, often forming dense stands in wetlands such as marshes, bogs, and pond edges.
Cultivation favors moist sandy-loam, acidic soil (pH ≤6) with full sun to partial shade; hardiness zones 6a–9b. It propagates by division or seeds and spreads by rhizomes; commonly used in landscaping and roadside plantings and suitable for native or pollinator gardens.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-3 feet
Spread
1-2 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6a-9b
Sunlight Requirements
Full sun to partial shade.
Soil Type
Moist, acidic loamy or sandy soil with good drainage and moisture retention
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained loamy soil.
Soil pH
5.0-6.0
Bloom Color
Pink, purple, or white (range from white to lavender).
Bloom Time
Spring through Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No autumn foliage color
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast, 2-3 feet per year
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Bees: Yes
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 346 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Myrtales
- Family
- Melastomataceae
- Genus
- Rhexia