Grow this vibrantly-colored North American native wildflower in a shaded spot of your yard.
Gardeners love it for its predictable show of flowers in late spring every year.
The colorful trumpet-shaped blossoms are yellow inside and red outside.
Rob Cardillo.
These blossoms stand out from across the yard and attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.
It is relatively deer- and rabbit-resistant.
Indian pink is toxic to humans.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It’s eye-catching when planted by itself in mass plantings, where it’s practically guaranteed to attract hummingbirds.
Thanks to its festive red-and-yellow flowers, you’re free to also easily incorporate Indian pink intotropical-inspiredgardens.
Place the plant in the hole and fill in the original soil to the top of the root ball.
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Gently tamp down the soil and water it well.
Keep it watered for at least one week until the plant is established.
For a dense mass planting or bedding planting, space plants about 10 inches apart.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Indian Pink Care Tips
Light
Indian pink thrives in partial to full shade.
At the lower end of its zone range, it will tolerate some afternoon sun.
Soil and Water
The plant grows best in moist,well-drained soilrich in organic matter.
A 2- to 3-inchlayer of mulcharound the base of the plant helps preserve soil moisture.
Fertilizer
For a woodland native, like Indian pink, skip the commercial fertilizer.
Pruning
Indian pink doesn’t require pruning except for removing dead stems after the season is over.
Fill it with a combination of well-draining potting mix and compost.
Keep in mind that container plants require more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape.
Growing Indian pink in containers requires winter protection, although the plant is winter-hardy in cold climates.
In containers, the roots are exposed to the cold.
Pests and Problems
Indian pink is generally unbothered by pests and diseases.
To divide: Dig up a clump after loosening the soil and roots.
Pull up the clump, careful to keep the roots intact.
Shake or brush off excess dirt.
Replant the clumps separately and cover them with mulch to preserve moisture.
The seeds are peculiar: they are shot out of the pods several feet away.
They need 90 days ofcold stratification.
Start them in the fall, either directly in the ground or in seed pots or trays.
Barely cover the seeds.
The seeds will begin germination in the spring.
The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coral bells fine groundcover plants.
They enjoy humus-rich, moisture-retaining soil.
Beware of heaving in areas with very cold winters.
This tough, shade-loving perennial blooms with white or purplish lavender funnel-shaped or flared flowers in summer.
Columbine thrives in sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Plants tend to be short-lived but self-seed readily, often creating natural hybrids with other nearby columbines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Little Redhead is a cultivar of the speciesSpigelia marilandica.
The cultivar hasa more compact and uniform growth habit, not exceeding 2 feet in height.
The only other known cultivar of Indian pink is the orange-red blooming Ragin Cajun.
No, these are two different plant species that are not even in the same plant family.
Confusingly, they are often referred to by the same common name, Indian pink.
The Indian pink described above isSpigelia marilandica; the otherIndianpink is known aslobeliaor cardinal flower(Lobelia cardinalis).
It is also native to the United States but blooms much later, in mid- to late summer.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Indian pink.
Montgomery County Master Gardeners.
July 20, 2023.
