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Virginia Meadow-beauty Rhexia virginica

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Rhexia stricta
  • Rhexia virginica var. purshii
  • Rhexia virginica var. septemnervia
Phonetic Spelling
REKS-ee-uh vir-JIN-ih-kuh
Description

In its natural setting, Virginia Meadow beauty can be found growing in wetlands, wet meadows, bogs, seepage slopes, and open sandy locations.  Taller plants will sprawl along the ground while shorter ones will stand erect.  

It grows from an underground tuber and will spread rapidly.  Makes an attractive appearance in the garden with its pink flowers with contrasting yellow anthers.  Blooming typically takes place in late summer and lasts for approximately one month.  The bloom time is dependant on the zone where planted. After blooming and autumns arrival, the seed capsules turn red, adding to the plants' attractiveness.  The capsules remain through the winter.

It can be propagated by seed.  After the green fruit turns a copper color, dries out and becomes brittle the seed will be mature.  Store the seed in a sealed container and refrigerate.  Stratify for 2 to 3 months at 40 degrees.  The plant will typically reseed itself.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Frequently damaged by deer.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#fall interest#bumblebee friendly#herbaceous#NC native#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#herbaceous perennial#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains OBL#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#perennial#wildflower#moth friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#fall interest#bumblebee friendly#herbaceous#NC native#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#herbaceous perennial#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains OBL#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#perennial#wildflower#moth friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rhexia
    Species:
    virginica
    Family:
    Melastomataceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts bees, moths, butterflies, and other pollinators. Deer will frequent this plant. The flowers are cross-pollinated by bumblebees.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat tolerant.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
  • 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:
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    The urn-shaped green fruit displays from July to November. When ripe, the color will become copper in color, dry out and become brittle as the seed mature.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of 1 in. widely spread bright purple-pink flowers have a glandular, hairy calyx tube, 4 sepals united to form an urn-shaped to vase-like tube with four lobes at the summit. The flowers open in the morning and often drops petals by mid-day. Flowers bloom from May to October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The simple or branched 4-sided stem has narrow wings. Along the central stem, there are 1 to 3 inch oval to egg-shaped opposite leaves with small bristly teeth on the margins. Each leaf is 1 1/4" wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    This plant is typically unbranched with the exception of the apex where a few lateral stems are produced with flowers. The central stem is light green to purple-green with glandular hairs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators