Spigelia marilandica 'Little Redhead'

4/4/2023 9:31 am

A plant that ticks off the wish list of many, Spigelia marilandica 'Little Redhead' is a compact form of "Indian pink."  It's a native plant to our region, its late spring (May to June) red flowers tipped in yellow are stunning, hummingbirds love it, and it is low maintenance.  Since it tops out just about at 20" tall, it's a great front of the border plant too.  Happy in light shade, it will bloom better in full sun. It isn't fussy about soil either.

Dr. Patrick McMillan of Juniper Level Botanic Garden gave this an enthusiastic thumbs up at a recent Georgia Perennial talk. It's origins trace back to nearby Aiken, South Carolina nursery Woodlanders.  The plant will clump and expand over time, but will never be thuggish and won't self sow, though you might wish it so.