Stoneroot Collinsonia verticillata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Collinsonia verticillata var. purpurascens
- Hypogon verticillata
- Micheliella verticillata
- Phonetic Spelling
- kol-in-SOH-nee-uh ver-ti-si-LAH-tuh
- Description
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Whorled horsebalm is an erect, rhizomatous, perennial, native wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) found from Ohio east to the southeastern United States and is somewhat scattered. In southwestern North Carolina, it is found in rich forests ranging from moist cove forests unique to the Appalachian Mountains to dry oak forests over dense rocky areas rich in minerals and limestone. This plant grows from 6 to 18 inches tall on an unbranched stem. There are several pairs of opposite green leaves with toothed margins along the stems, but just below the flower, two pairs of leaves are arranged so closely together that they appear whorled. The flowers appear from late April to June on a terminal raceme with pinkish-white blooms. A tiny nutlet is produced from June to July. The specific epithet, verticillata, is Latin for "whorled," referring to the species leaf appearance below each flower.
Grows as a woodland plant in rich soils in partial shade.
This wildflower is the host plant for both the Owlet (Noctuidae) and the White-fringed Pyrausta (Pyrausta niveicilialis) moths, as well as the Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly.
Whorled horsebalm is a vulnerable species due to its limited range, as per the United States Forest Service. In North Carolina, it is ranked S2 or highly vulnerable by the North Carolina Heritage Program.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There is limited data available.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Collinsonia
- Species:
- verticillata
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used this wildflower for medicinal purposes--digestive and respiratory problems.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ohio to Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts birds, bumblebees, and moths.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a dry, nutlet and displays from June to July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are borne on a 4- to 6-inch-long raceme from late April to June. Each bloom is about 3/4 inches long and pink to whitish-pink. Flowers are in groups of 3 to 6 at each node in the inflorescence. They have 4 stamens on long filaments and are covered with glandular hairs. The tubular flower has lanceolate lobes that are two times the length of the tube. The lower lip of the corolla is fringed is as wide as it is long. Its stamens and pistils extend beyond the corolla.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are green, elliptical to ovate, measuring 5 to 6 inches long, and up to 3 inches wide with serrate margins. Several pairs of opposite leaves appear along the stem, but just below the inflorescence, the top 2 pairs are closely arranged, giving the appearance of a whorled pattern. The leaves are borne on short petioles, 0.5 to 1.5 inches long. Hairs are seen along the veins on the upper and lower surface.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stems are green to greenish-purple and erect.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
