Purpleflower Pinkroot Spigelia alabamensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Spigelia gentianoides var. alabamensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-GHEE-lee-ah al-a-ba-MEN-sis
- Description
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Alabama Indian Pink is native to Alabama. In the wild, it is only found in a handful of locations within Bibb County, Alabama. It has been classified as endangered. In these few locations, it will be found growing in open areas of woodlands, i.e. glades, where dolostone is present. Dolostone is a fine-grained rock that contain the mineral dolomite, which is a type of limestone.
The decline in the population of this plant is the result of loss of habit and by alteration of the site land. Contributing to this decline are clear-cutting, thinning of surrounding woodlands, reduction of controlled burns, land conversion from woodlands to pine plantations, and development. Once a thriving species in Florida, it has all but disappeared.
Efforts to help the revival of this endangered species has been started and continues.
This plant grows in partial shade to full sun and would be a good addition to a rock garden.
- 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:
- Spigelia
- Species:
- alabamensis
- Family:
- Loganiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Rock garden
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Alabama
- Distribution:
- Alabama
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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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:
- Shallow Rocky
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits have 2 round lobes that are surrounded by the dried sepals.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Under 1", the pale pink flowers sit erect at the top of the stem. Each flower has 5 lobes.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves form in pairs and sit at right angles to the next set of leaves. They do not have stalks. The lower leaves and small and rounded, while the upper leaves take on an oval to lance shape.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Each plant will have 1 to 3 erect stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Insect Pests
