marsh pink

Sabatia stellaris

Marsh pink is a beautiful flower that grows in wet places like marshes. It has lovely pink petals that attract butterflies and bees, making it a special part of nature.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The marsh pink has vibrant pink, star-shaped flowers, each with a bright yellow center. Its delicate petals are often pointed, growing atop slender, often branched stems with narrow, green leaves, making it stand out in marshy landscapes.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyGentianaceaeGenusSabatia

marsh pink

Interesting facts

Despite its fragile look, the marsh pink is a tough survivor of harsh coastal environments!

Its scientific name 'stellaris' means 'star-like,' perfectly describing its beautiful, five-pointed blooms!

Its tiny seeds are like miniature adventurers, waiting for the perfect muddy spot to sprout.

This plant loves salty marshland, thriving where few other delicate flowers dare to grow!

Special abilities

Marsh pink can thrive in wet, often salty coastal soils where many other plants cannot survive, helping it dominate unique habitats.

Marsh pink has bright colors and nectar guides that attract bees and butterflies, ensuring its flowers are pollinated.

Marsh pink can grow quickly from seed, allowing it to rapidly colonize disturbed marsh areas after floods or storms.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-60 cm
Spread: 10-20 cm
Flower Size: 2-4 cm
Bloom Season: Summer to early Fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

A primary pollinator for marsh pink

pollinates

Monarch butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Feeds on nectar, aiding pollination

pollinates

Eastern tiger swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

Attracted to its vibrant pink flowers

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Cluster Flower

Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.