Pale Meadow Beauty Rhexia mariana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- REX-ee-a mar-ee-AY-na
- Description
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Maryland Meadow Beauty is a low-growing perennial in the meadow beauty family. It is found in the southeastern US in savannas, meadows, marshes and bogs. It prefers moist, sandy-loam, slightly acidic soil in full sun to part shade. It will also tolerate rocky acidic soils and seasonal flooding.
The flowers appear mid-summer to fall with a fairly long bloom season of 1-2 months. They are pollinated primarily by bumblebees. Two varieties occur in our area and are distinguished by their leaves: Rhexia mariana var. mariana has lanceolate, elliptic or ovate leaves that are 0.25 to 2.5 inches across, whereas R. mariana var. exalbida has linear leaves less than 0.25 inch wide.
Use this plant along ponds or streams, around water gardens, bogs or other sandy wet areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhexia
- Species:
- mariana
- Family:
- Melastomataceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE U.S.A., NC
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Seed pods are small and brown, resembling urns.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 2 inches wide, 4 petaled flowers are white, pink, purple, or pale pink and have long stamens with bright yellow curved anthers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are opposite and elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate, up to 3 inches long and 1.25 inches across. The leaves are 3-nerved with the surface nearly glabrous to hairy. They may take on a maroon coloring in the fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green stem is glandular-hairy
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
