Rhexia virginica
Meadow Beauty
General
An herbaceous perennial native to eastern North America. It grows up to 1-2 feet tall and features attractive, four-petaled magenta pink flowers with contrasting yellow stamens. The plant thrives in moist to wet soils, often found in marshes, wet meadows, and along stream banks, where its blooms attract pollinators like butterflies and bees during the summer months.
Plant Description
Upright stems that reach heights of 1-2 feet. It bears vibrant, four-petaled magenta pink flowers with prominent yellow stamens, creating a visually striking contrast. The lance-shaped leaves are arranged opposite each other on the stems.
Height (ft)
1-2 ft
Soil moisture
Moist to wet
Soil types
Acidic, sandy or loamy
Wetland indicator
OBL
Shade tolerance
Tolerant, Full sun to part shade
Bloom color
Pink
Bloom period
Mid to late summer
Drought tolerance
Intolerant
Salinity tolerance
None
Range
From southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada, southward through the eastern United States, including states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and extending into the southeastern United States
Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]
Additional Information
According to the BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database, this species' leaves and stems are used in a "brew" to cleanse the throat by the Montagnais and Micmac people.