Carolina Pink is an erect, rarely branched, herbaceous perennial wildflower native to the southeastern United States. It will mature to a height of 2 feet with a spread of 18 inches supporting red and yellow blossoms in early summer that are known to attract hummingbirds. This plant is found naturally in forests in circumneutral soils. The genus name honors Adrian van der Spiegel (1578-1625), professor of anatomy at Padua. The species name means of Maryland. Carolina Pink does best in partial to full shade with medium moist, well-drained, organically rich soil. It will tolerate wet soil and drought. The blossoms open one at a time, and seed formation follows the same sequence. To gather seeds for next season, tie a piece of netting over the green seed capsules to capture seeds as they ripen and fall out. Store the seeds dry. Carolina Pink makes an excellent cut flower for fresh arrangements.It performs very well in gardens. It blooms from the bottom upward and you can extend the one month flowering season by deadheading the flowers as they wither. This plant is classified as a North Carolina threatened species. Source of strychnine poison. Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center provides a factsheet on Carolina Pink. Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Mounding
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Four to seven pairs of sessile, opposite, ovate or entire leaves. Glossy green, ovate to lance-shaped leaves (to 4" long).
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Spike-like raceme cluster on one side of the stem, 2 to 12 vivid red tubular flowers with yellow interior; tips of the five pointed petals flare slightly backwards; stamens and style project beyond the petals; This plant blooms in May and June. Each flower is yellow inside and flares at the top to form five pointed lobes (a yellow star).
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Two-celled seed capsules release their seeds in June and July.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
East central and southeastern United States
Distribution
Native to Illinois, south to Florida, and west to Texas.