One of my very favorite marsh-pinks is named after William Bartram, one of the earliest of the Eurpopean botanists to explore and classify Florida's flora. Bartram's marsh-pink (Sabatia decandra) was formerly known as S. bartramii, but is now correctly named for its 10 petals - which in reality can vary from between 9 and 12 in number. Bartram's rose-pink occurs throughout Florida in moist to wet soil habitats; primarily at the upper edges of open sunny marshes. It is also native to our immediate neighbors and to the Carolinas as well.
Though sometimes described as a perennial, I have found it to be an annual. It forms rather large, linear, almost succulent basal leaves in the early spring, but these largely disappear by the time the plants bloom in mid summer. The flower stalks are robust and stand about 2 - 2 1/2 feet tall. Small opposite leaves are present up the flower stalks.
What makes this species so showy are its vivid pink flowers, with its broad petals forming a corolla nearly 3 inches across. Although a few white forms are encountered, most are similar to the photo above. And, as common to the genus, the base of each petal has a canary yellow point outlined in red - forming a complex star pattern around the noticeable green ovary and the coiled stigma and style.
This species has never been offered for sale by any of the nurseries affiliated with AFNN - the Association of Florida Native Nurseries, and is not likely to be. Although I have tried to maintain it in my marshy garden at Hawthorn Hill, I have not been successful. I have accepted that this is one of the great many beautiful wildflowers meant mostly to be admired in the wild. Look for it in open wet marshes and wet prairies during the summer months. It is spectacular when growing in mass.
Is the pink sabatia the wildflower on the I-10 and I-75 side roads? Oh, my goodness, they are spectacular right now!!! If that's them, SOMEBODY has collected and sold the seed to the highway dept. Maybe they are phlox? I had "discovered" a pink sabatia on our Mississippi hill land back in the 1980's and fell in love with it! The fragrance is special too. I also fell in love with my musician husband, and we love house concerts. Thank you for hosting them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post - not likely a Sabatia. The Highway Dept. has been sowing wildflower seed in a lot of locations over the years. Not sure what uis up your way, but the most likely pink flower is the non-native annual phlox - Phlox drummondii. Thanks for reading my bolg - and interesting that we both have House COncert connections.
ReplyDeleteIs it possiable that you could collect some of the seed pods from the Marsh Pink and ship them to me. I am willing to defary time and shipping costs and not look for any guarntees of germination. George Brisbin (oldsalt@cox.net)
ReplyDeleteNormally, I am happy to share seed of plants I come across and don't need for my nursery. In this case, I doubt if I will come across it in seed. The plants I took these photos of are on private property that I was once doing work on. I no longer have access and I have not run across it since. IF I see it again, I will keep you in mind.
ReplyDeleteI bought three of these plants at a native nursery here in Brevard County. Southern zone 9B. I’m going to plant them in pots where I have sealed the hole. I understand they die back. When can I expect that to happen and what do I do so I’ll have flowers again. I don’t really have a wet spot in my yard so I’ll just have to keep them well watered.
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