Rhexia virginica Linnaeus. Common name: Virginia Meadow-beauty, Deergrass, Handsome Harry, Wing-stem Meadow-beauty. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: Wet pine flatwoods and savannas, pond shores, bogs, and ditches. Distribution: E. Canada and WI south to ne. FL, Panhandle FL, and TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl4, FNA10, G, GW2, Il, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Kral & Bostick (1969), Nesom (2012a); = Rhexia stricta Pursh — S; > Rhexia stricta Pursh — S13; > Rhexia virginica L. — S13; > Rhexia virginica L. var. purshii (Spreng.) C.W.James — RAB; > Rhexia virginica L. var. septemnervia (Walter) Pursh — F; > Rhexia virginica L. var. virginica — F, RAB; Rhexia virginica L. Basionym: Rhexia virginica L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Rhexia virginica - FNA10
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: rhexia virginica, upper gourley pond, cades cove, great smoky mountains national park, blount county, tennessee 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of wet pine flatwoods and savannas, pond shores, bogs and ditches.
Stems: Stems square, angles narrowly winged, usually unbranched except near apex, bristly at the nodes, otherwise smooth to sparsely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, broadly lance-shaped to oval, to 2 3/4 in. long, conspicuously 3-veined, sharply toothed and hairy along the margins, sometimes bristly.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in branched terminal clusters and from upper leaf axils; pinkish-purple; 1-1 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 4 broadly oval petals arising from a hairy or bristly, urn-shaped tube and 8 stamens with curved yellow anthers.
Fruits: Fruit a round capsule enclosed in the urn-shaped tube.
Comments: The flowers are buzz-pollinated by bumblebees.
Height: to 3 ft.
plant sale text: The lovely pink blooms and spreading habit of this meadow-beauty are sure to make it a hit in your garden. Each individual flower is around an inch across with 4 rosy-pink petals that contrast beautifully with distinctive bright yellow stamens. The great flowers must be the cause for another common name, handsome Harry! Though it can be tolerant of drier conditions in cultivation, adequate moisture and good drainage will produce the happiest plants.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of wet pine flatwoods and savannas, pond shores, bogs and ditches.
stems: Stems square, angles narrowly winged, usually unbranched except near apex, bristly at the nodes, otherwise smooth to sparsely hairy.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, broadly lance-shaped to oval, to 2 3/4 in. long, conspicuously 3-veined, sharply toothed and hairy along the margins, sometimes bristly.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in branched terminal clusters and from upper leaf axils; pinkish-purple; 1-1 1/2 in. wide; consisting of 4 broadly oval petals arising from a hairy or bristly, urn-shaped tube and 8 stamens with curved yellow anthers.
fruits: Fruit a round capsule enclosed in the urn-shaped tube.
comments: The flowers are buzz-pollinated by bumblebees.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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