Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wildflower Wednesday~ Indian Pinks


Spigelia marilandica~Indian Pink


Another of our wonderful Southeastern US natives that you won't see just anywhere! You will have to seek this sweetie pie out from native plant specialists if you want it in your garden. But, I promise, you won't be disappointed to have its red and yellow flowers grabbing attention in the shade. I have seen this plant massed and it looks spectacular. At this time, C&L only has two plants...but we want more!

According to the literature it prefers a moist, rich woodland~although, it tolerates the dry clay soil that is my woodland most of the summer! Just site it where you want it to grow... it really doesn't like to be moved. Go here to see if it will grow in your garden...my dear Canadian friends it won't take your cold winters!

It's good to be a benign gardener or this greenery might have been weeded out! Fortunately, I saw the red bud. Truthfully, it wasn't until the flower opened that I remembered tucking the Indian Pink in the garden last year!

In case you need more convincing to try Indian Pinks....Here's another look at those very different looking, but not unattractive flowers! Imagine them massed with hovering hummingbirds all around! Because that red and yellow flower produces an "outstanding source of nectar for hummingbirds."

So glad you stopped by! Frances arrives today and we are going to play in the garden, visit Growild, a native plant nursery, talk and leave tomorrow for Spring Fling! I won't be posting until late Monday or Tuesday! I wish all of you were going to be there! Have a sweet week filled with gardening and time with friends and loved ones. Gail

43 comments:

  1. Hello there Gail ! and Frances too ? LOL
    I was just about to send an e-mail to you .. I had a great morning laugh with that frog joke girl : )
    Too cute it was .. I'll be passing it on as well !
    Wow .. this is a little beauty .. reminds me of the canadensis columbine I have with the red and yellow .. no wonder the hummers love it !
    I'll be thinking of you girls having a wonderful time with all those other gardeners. So have fun and have at least one little piece of chocolate and think of me here in rainy Kingston ? LOL

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  2. Dear Joy, I do wish you were going to be there....perhaps I need a vacation to Canada this summer or fall to see you, meet the benchwarmers and the girls! I wish you could grow this wildflower...it would be stellar in your garden. But i think zone 5b is about as cold as it will tolerate! gail ps Glad you liked the joke!

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  3. Love the Indian Pinks, looks like little firecrackers. They grow well here in Tidewater.

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  4. WOW! What a beautiful rarity! They look like fire crackers. I wonder where I could find one. Did you buy it locally or through the mail?

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  5. Another beauty, Gail! Sometimes it does pay to be a little neglectful in weeding the garden.

    Today is packing day and taking care of all the last minute details--I'll see you tomorrow! (How fun is that to say?!)

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  6. The Indian pinks are really nice. Have you ever tried propagating more? A stem tipped cutting might work.

    Say Hi to Frances! If she's going to be around a little after Spring Fling maybe the TN Garden Blogger's Association should meet like last year?

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  7. What an unusual bloom. I've never heard of this one, maybe it doesn't grow in zone 4. Have a wonderful time at Spring Fling.

    Take notes, take photos;)
    Marnie

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  8. Gail that Indian Pinks looks so exotic! Almost like a species of orchid with it's felshy looking flower top petals opening to the sky!

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  9. I love this little native! Don't have it in my garden but working on rectifying it by trying some cuttings. So good to be a benign gardener indeed.

    Have fun with Frances and a great trip this weekend. I'll be out of town too but going east instead of north!

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  10. I told Lee last night that all was not lost about you guys coming to visit and that we would talk after you came back from Chicago. He asked me what you all were doing in Chicago and I said "I don't know!" Well, now I do! How interesting and fun! Can't wait to hear about the flowers and gardens you see up there....

    xxoo Lynn

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  11. Hi All, I found these beauties at Growild a local nursery,Lzy, but I am pretty sure you can order them online....I might have to try to propagate them, Dave and Tina...you guys will have to show me how! Marnie, I am pretty sure zone 5 is about as cold as they can take...they are actually in a family of tropicals (and love both Texas and Florida! ) Nature Girl which makes them exotic looking firecrackers as you described Janet! I promise to take a lot of photos...I bought a 4GB card. I wish you all were going with us...Rose, I will see you tomorrow...we will have to have a party in someone's room tomorrow evening! Gail

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  12. Lynnie, Next year it might be in upstate NY! Will you join us then! Thanks for the great surprise that came in the mail! It's too perfect for this wilderness. xxGail

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  13. Gail, I love this wildflower. So showy. I had one in a bed beside the house a few years ago; unfortunately I killed it when digging up something else. :( I must get another one. At one time the NCBG had a whole colony -- looked incredible.

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  14. That is a unique bloom! Thanks for sharing! I have never heard of it before!!!

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  15. I'm learning so much about native plants from these Wildflower Wednesday postings. Say hi to Frances for me & I hope you both have a wonderful time at Spring Fling. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend this year due to family obligations.

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  16. Hi Gail! Frances too!

    What a delight it must have been to find this forgotten plant blooming in your garden. It really is a pretty blossom.
    Hope you guys have a wonderful time playing in the garden! I'm not sure what the Spring Fling is...off to investigate.

    Enjoy~ Karrita

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  17. What cute flowers! It's really fun seeing what grows in other peoples gardens.
    Have fun at spring fling with Frances :)

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  18. What a treasuer in the garden! I wonder how many things I have plucked thinking they are weeds? That may explain whey not many wildflowers are popping up from all the seed I scattered last fall and this spring. Arg, I need to wait a bit longer to pluck weeds...

    Have fun at Spring Fling. Too many travels the past two months to make it up north. Maybe next year!

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  19. That is an interesting looking plant. Can't wait to read your take on Frances' visit and hers.

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  20. Gail:
    Oh how this reminds me of last summer. I grew one - albeit a very tiny two stemmed beauty here in Ontario Canada (Zone 5) and was thrilled with the ruby tubular flowers with yellow stars..... I haven't given up hope just yet..... will keep you posted! IN the meantime I shall covet and enjoy yours!

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  21. WOw, they're amasing! Really exotic to my eyes. Here I wouldn't expect to see anything like it apart from maybe at Kew Botanical Gardens. Lovely!

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  22. a fascinating flower. Have a wonderful time with Frances.

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  23. Dear Gail.....a beautiful wildflower....I love the colour and the thought of a hummingbird hovering around the bloom is a delightful image......

    I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your fellow bloggers...I wish I could be with you all but it is just too far....

    Enjoy........

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  24. It is a beautiful flower. Nice to know that humming birds find them attractive. Have a good trip!

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  25. Gail (and Frances) -- have a great time at the Spring Fling and all of your other adventures.

    Gail -- I think Indian Pinks are the prettiest, daintiest wildflowers. Just love them!

    Cameron

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  26. WOW! The Indian Pink looks so nice and its shape is very special.
    Thanks for sharing it with us!

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  27. I've never heard of that flower. I like it!

    Have fun at Spring Fling. I considered going, but it's a long drive, and I really need to be in the garden this time of year.

    I hope to see lots of photos.

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  28. Hi Gail! What a distinctive little blossom. It's great! You will be having a wonderful time at Spring Fling! I tried and tried to figure out a way to at least get to MMD's on Sunday. To no avail. I'm sure I'll be reading lots of fun posts afterwards! :-)

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  29. What a beautiful little plant. I like the red & yellow together.
    I hope you & Frances have a safe trip & have a lot of fun at the fling.

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  30. Hi Gail,
    This is our first visit and really liked your blog.Will be coming back:)

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  31. Thank you all for stopping by and taking the time to leave a message.... I am having a great time with Frances...who is out in the garden. We shall be leav ing soon for the airport and Chicago. I do wish you all could be there, too. See you Tuesday. Gail

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  32. Gail,
    We've been trying to identify this plant for over a week! Thank you! The ones we saw had a brighter Yellow to them, is that possible?

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  33. Wildflower Wednesday! I like it (never could get the hang of Wordless Wednesday). Maybe next week I'll join you.

    And yes, love the Indian Pink. Just thinking about all those hummers makes me smile ;->

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  34. I love this little native too, but have never seen much "pink" in it.

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  35. Oh, you'll never know how close I came to ordering these Indian Pinks this spring ~ but I was thinking for containers not the garden. I don't know why but I thought they wouldn't even overwinter in my zone 5?? I'll have to re-check that because I'd love to have them for my hummers. I hope you and Frances have a fantastic time together and at Spring Fling. Meanwhile, we'll hold down the blogging "fort!"

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  36. i like this little delicate flower and can imagine them en mass along a pathway.
    have a great time with frances and at the spring fling.

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  37. What an interesting plant -- haven't seen one of those before. Hope you & Frances had a great weekend.

    /krys

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  38. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

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  39. Gail,
    What a lovely native to have in your garden! We haven't managed Indian Pink yet (we're still working on the humus in the understory of the developing woodland.

    An encouraging and delightful post (as usual).

    Best,
    Lisa

    P.S.
    Penstemon X and the bonus Phlox pilosa are doing fine. Thanks!

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  40. What a lovely little wildflower--and it's so good to know it will grown here in Texas. Another plant for my To Buy List...sigh...

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  41. Your Indian Pinks are so very majestic looking. Any flower loved by hummingbirds is loved by me. Can't wait to see what photos you bring back from Spring Fling.

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  42. Spigelia marilandica~Indian Pink is new to me and certainly wonderful. I'm sure you gals had a ball together! Anxious to hear SP tales and see photos :)

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  43. That's so sweet! IT being a hummingbird magnet would make it ultra special. So do you get treated with their visits? I'd love to see their photos too... I hope you had great time with Frances - a fine gardener that she is!

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson