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Grassleaf Roseling

Callisia graminea (kah-LEE-see-uh gram-IN-ee-a)

Family: Commelinaceae Native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Grassleaf roseling is a perennial NC native wildflower in the spiderwort family (Comnellinaceae). It is often found in the sandhills and coastal plains on sandy soil in thickets, pine barrens, disturbed sites and can be found from VA to FL. The specific epithet is Latin for "grassy" and refers to the plant's appearance. It is an erect to trailing plant that grows best in sandy soils in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Grassleaf roseling grow 6 inchs to 1 foot tall The three-petalled rose-colored flowers appear in May to July and sometimes again in the fall and are showy despite their small size. The leaves are small and linear. Use this plant as a ground cover, in a rock garden or drought-tolerant garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Overwatering can cause root rot. Monitor for spider mites, aphids, and mealy bugs .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 49 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Often confused with Tradescantia

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Wildflower
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are .5- to.7 inches long, linear and sessile with entire margins and parallel venation.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Rose or pink three-petaled blooms from May-July and sometimes again in fall with flowers that are showy despite their diminutive size.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Displays from June to August
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems have a basal sheath wrapping around them
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
SE. U.S.A. Maryland to FL
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden
Garden tags
#native wildflower #red flowers #purple #purple flowers #pink flowers #native garden #sandy soils tolerant #food source nectar #food source pollen #food source summer #Audubon #coastal plant #NC native #NC Native Pollinator Plant #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Drought; Dry Soil

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.