# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![marsh pink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Marsh_pink.jpg&width=800) Photo: Arch dude, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marsh_pink.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Gentianaceae - **Genus:** Sabatia ## 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 - **Wetland Warrior:** Marsh pink can thrive in wet, often salty coastal soils where many other plants cannot survive, helping it dominate unique habitats. - **Nectar Beacon:** Marsh pink has bright colors and nectar guides that attract bees and butterflies, ensuring its flowers are pollinated. - **Quick Sprouter:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding pollination - **Pollinates:** [Eastern tiger swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Attracted to its vibrant pink flowers ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify marsh pink? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is marsh pink? 15-60 cm ### How wide does marsh pink spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on marsh pink? 2-4 cm ### When does marsh pink bloom? Summer to early Fall ### Is marsh pink edible? No ### Is marsh pink toxic? None ### What is marsh pink's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Delaware Seashore State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-seashore-state-park) — Delaware, US · State Park - [Doctor Julian G. Bruce Saint George Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/doctor-julian-g-bruce-saint-george-island-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Marsh Pink: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-pink)