Piedmont roseling is a native perennial and a member of the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). It is found in the southeastern United States from Virginia to Florida in sandy, shallow, or rocky soils. It is disease, heat, and humidity tolerant. The genus name, Callisia , is derived from the Greek word, "kallos" meaning "beauty." The species name, rosea, is Latin for "rosy." The Piedmont roseling is a clump of thin, sheath-like, simple, green leaves with small solitary pink to lavender flowers with gold stamens. They bloom from spring to early summer. The blossoms open in the morning and close by mid-afternoon. The fruit is a small green capsule that matures in 2-3 weeks after flowering. The capsule becomes dry and papery and splits open to release its seeds. Seeds may be sown and germinate in 2 weeks. They may also be stored over winter and planted in the early spring. Propagation may also be accomplished by the division of large clumps of the plant in the fall. The Piedmont roseling is a low-maintenance plant and prefers partial shade. Sandy, acidic soil is well-tolerated. Once the plant is established it becomes more drought tolerant. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. The Piedmont roseling is well suited as a groundcover in rock gardens or shade gardens.
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.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves of the plant are fine, green, narrow, and sheath-like. They tend to grow in clumps. The distal blades are as wide as the basal sheaths when they are opened and flattened.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
This plant has a dainty, solitary, three-petaled, pink to a lavender flower that blooms from spring to early summer. Three sepals are smaller than the showy flower. There are six gold stamens The diameter of the flower measures 0.5 to 1 inch in diameter. Typically, the flowers are produced in the morning and close by mid-afternoon.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The small, light-green capsule will mature in 2-3 weeks after the plant flowers. In a few days, the capsule becomes papery and dry before splitting open to release the seeds. To collect the seeds, it may be best to tie a small bag around the capsule before it splits open.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The plant has slender stalks and green leaves.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia
Wildlife value
This plant attracts bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Shade
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Small Space