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Pale Meadow Beauty Rhexia mariana

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
REX-ee-a mar-ee-AY-na
Description

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:
Tags:
#purple#water garden#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#NC native#summer flowers#pond garden#marshes#prairies#NC Native Pollinator Plant#partial shade tolerant#boggy sites#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#water garden#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#NC native#summer flowers#pond garden#marshes#prairies#NC Native Pollinator Plant#partial shade tolerant#boggy sites#meadow#woodland
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Seed pods are small and brown, resembling urns.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Green stem is glandular-hairy
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees