Praise from knowledgeable people (mostly horticulturists and native plant specialists) who praise the perennial Indian rose, Spigelia marilandica, They are everywhere online and in print. Flying under the radar of many people, Indian Pink is finally gaining traction. A long-lived perennial that brings stunning color to the summer garden, hummingbirds flock to these red and yellow tubular flowers arranged in clusters. Similar to firecrackers exploding in the garden, this unique native plant stops people in their tracks when they see it in my garden.
Out of curiosity about the name, I discovered that the genus name honors Adrian van der Spiegel (1578-1625), professor of anatomy in Padua, and that the species means from maryland. I assume that means it was discovered in Maryland, but I haven’t been able to confirm that.
A well-developed clump of Indian Pink, which is born late in spring and steadily increases in size, will bloom in early summer and then sporadically throughout the remainder of the growing season. The plant can contain more than 75 of those colorful tubular flowers (perfect for hummingbirds) that catch your eye as soon as you look at the garden. Indian roses are highly sought after in perennial nurseries and have trouble keeping them in stock. In fact, some of the nurseries I spoke to send them to British clients instead of the US, because they are crazy about them! Native to the southeastern US, hardy to zone 5b, it has been planted as a novelty in the US and is now achieving widespread status.
Mt Cuba Center grows Indian rose in shade or partial shade and notes that: “Spigelia marilandica combines well with Dryopteris intermedia, Chrysogonum virginianum, a proud lilyand Aquilegia canadensis. I grow my Indian Pink here in Maryland in almost full sun, although most of the cultural information I’ve read says it likes partial shade, so I think it’s very adaptable. I have grown it for about 5 years in full sun in a well-drained location next to some Coreopsis and have had great success in that location. Making sure it has some extra water in dry periods has probably helped it thrive. The ones I planted in partial shade were not as full of flowers but are still beautiful. Resistance to deer browsing increases the attractiveness of this plant. But I have friends who say deer have eaten it.
The common name of Indian Rose refers to its medicinal properties. The dried roots are used as a hallucinogen and antiparasitic, nothing to mess around with. Use for horticultural purposes, not medicinal purposes!
Highly sought after by wildflower enthusiasts, I think everyone should include this great native in their garden to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. New cultivars called ‘Little Redhead’ and ‘Rajun Cajun’ are now available. They are reported to be much more compact and full of flowers, and are available at Plant Delights in North Carolina and local nurseries.
