As you walk out of the Herbert Bryant Conference Center and head to the dining hall you can’t miss the bright pop of red color created by the Indian pink plants in the shady parts of our native plant garden. It’s worth stopping to take a closer look.
This perennial plant is known as woodland pinkroot or Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica). It blooms in March through June, but f you remove spent flowers after the initial bloom, it will continue to bloom well into summer. It grows best in part-shade and prefers moist but well-drained soil.
In Mississippi forests, you can find it on the edge of woodlands or along streams. It grows to be a foot or two tall and produces clumps of stems in one spot.
Wildlife Value
The bright, tubular flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It’s a deer resistant plant perfect for dry, shady conditions in your garden.
