indian pink

The tidy habit of the Indian Pink is a welcome change from woodland flowers that take over the entire garden, like lily-of-the-valley and dead nettles. In its native habitat, you might find this uncommon wildflower growing along shady streams in woodland areas. However, there’s no need to poach plants from the wild; an increasing number of nurseries are satisfying the consumer demand for this plant.

Latin Name:

Indian Pink belongs to the genus Spigelia marilandica, which is part of the Loganaceae family. The Indian Pink plant is unusual in that most other plants in the Loganaceae family are tropical or annual flowers.

Indian Pink, Woodland Pinkroot, Worm Grass

USDA Hardiness Zones:

Indian Pink plants grow in zones 5 to 9. The native range of the plant is in the Southeastern part of the United States, but gardeners in other parts of the United States can try their hand at growing this low-care plant if their shade garden has rich loam and moist conditions.

Indian Pinks form clumps that grow between 12 and 18 inches.

Flowers of Indian Pink Plants:

Indian Pink plants flower during May and June, revealing crimson tubular blossoms that terminate in a yellow, five-tipped flare.

In addition to giving Indian Pink a sheltered, shady spot in the garden, you must provide this flower with rich, moist soil. Like most wildflowers, Indian Pink doesn’t require fertilizer, but it does appreciate the nutrients from a regular application of compost or leaf mold.

You can propagate the Indian Pink through division, or by gathering ripe seedheads from faded blossoms in early summer. Try to collect the seedheads before they burst, ejecting the seeds willy-nilly into the garden.