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Helonias bullata Linnaeus. Common name: Swamp Pink. Phenology: Apr-May; Jun-Jul. Habitat: Bogs, usually under dense shrubs in peaty soils, in the VA Coastal Plain in acidic sandy seepage swamps. Distribution: S. NY and NJ to e. VA on the Coastal Plain, and from w. VA through w. NC to nw. SC and ne. GA (Jones & Coile 1988) in the Blue Ridge Mountains

ID notes: The flowering scape elongates markedly in fruit, reaching 1 m in height.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA26, G, GW1, K4, NS, NY, POWO, RAB, S, Tat, W, Zomlefer (1997a). Basionym: Helonias bullata L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Helonias bullata - FNA26

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, stemless perennial, often forming dense patches in bogs; usually under dense shrubs in peaty soils, and in the VA Coastal Plain in acidic, sandy seepage swamps.

Stems: A stout, hollow, smooth flowering scape arises from a large basal rosette and elongates markedly in fruit.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, elongate-spoon-shaped or lance-shaped, 3 1/2-12 in. long, evergreen and glossy; leaves on the flowering scape are alternate and much reduced in size.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in a dense cylindrical-cone shaped raceme at top of scape, pink, about 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 6 tepals and 6 blue stamens, fragrant.

Fruits: Fruit a tiny, 3-lobed capsule.

Comments: A Federal threatened, rare plant.

Height: 1-2 ft. (taller with fruiting)

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect, stemless perennial, often forming dense patches in bogs; usually under dense shrubs in peaty soils, and in the VA Coastal Plain in acidic, sandy seepage swamps.

stems: A stout, hollow, smooth flowering scape arises from a large basal rosette and elongates markedly in fruit.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal, elongate-spoon-shaped or lance-shaped, 3 1/2-12 in. long, evergreen and glossy; leaves on the flowering scape are alternate and much reduced in size.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in a dense cylindrical-cone shaped raceme at top of scape, pink, about 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 6 tepals and 6 blue stamens, fragrant.

fruits: Fruit a tiny, 3-lobed capsule.

comments: A Federal threatened, rare plant.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States



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