Spigelia

( spih - GELL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

The genus Spigelia includes species which are native to tropical to warm temperate regions of the Americas, including the southern United States. Plants in this genus require partial to full shade and regular waterings to perform well in the landscape. These flowering ornamentals are commonly called Pinkroots or Wormgrasses, and typically produce green foliage and bright orange to red tubular flowers that are popular with pollinators, especially hummingbirds and butterflies. Use Spigelia in mixed beds and borders, in shade or woodland gardens, or in containers. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Spigelia Species and Varietals

The genus Spigelia is a member of the plant family Loganiaceae and includes around 60 species. The genus is named for Adrian van den Spiegel, a Flemish anatomist and botanist. The best growing zones for Spigelia vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Spigelia anthelmia (West Indian Pinkroot, Wormbush, Wormgrass, Pink Weed)
This species is native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Florida, and northern areas of South America. It has naturalized in many tropical areas of the world, including western Africa and Asia. Foliage is green, and flowers are white with reddish to magenta linear markings on petals. Individual plants reach up to 20 inches tall. This is the type species of the genus.

Spigelia gentianoides (Purpleflower Pinkroot, Gentian Pinkroot)
Native to the United States in Alabama and Florida, this species is considered to be critically imperiled due to habitat loss and degradation as well as climate change. It forms an herbaceous erect plant up to a foot tall and produces oppositely arranged green foliage. Flowers are tubular and pink, typically in flower between the months of April and October in the species' native range. These flowers typically grow in woodland and glade landscapes.

Spigelia genuflexa
This annual species is native to Brazil, and grows to reach just 10 inches tall at maturity when in bloom. Leaves are blue-green to green, and these are unusual plants in that they produce flowering stems that bend down into the ground to directly deposit seeds in the soil.

Spigelia marilandica (Woodland Pinkroot, Indian Pink)
This wildflower species is native to inland areas in the southeastern and midwestern United States. Flowers are present from late spring through early summer. The blooms are typically tubular and red, opening at their tips to reveal bright green interiors. These plants naturally grow in woodland and forested areas, and are popular ornamental garden plants in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Caring for Spigelia

Spigelia can be purchased as seed or as a specimen from a reputable nursery. The seeds can be direct-sown in the garden in fall, and will germinate in the springtime. The best time of the year to plant Spigelia specimens is also in autumn. Space plants about 10 inches apart in the landscape for best coverage and airflow. Plant Spigelia in a space in the landscape that gets partial shade. They can take between 4 and 6 hours of shade at the most, but are naturally tropical woodland plants, and therefore like some shelter from the direct rays of the sun. Bright, indirect light is ideal. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 7.0 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Indian Pink appreciates a consistently moist substrate.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flowering stems to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage rebloom. In springtime, cut back foliage to make way for new growth. Every once in a while Spigelia will need to be divided to maintain plant health. These plants spread to form colonies by underground rhizome roots, and have the ability to outgrow their space, especially if they are in a cramped spot or container. For instructions on how to successfully divide Spigelia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Growing Spigelia in Containers
Spigelia plants can be grown both in the ground and in containers. If you are in an area with cool winter temperatures, this may be a great option for adding this tropical plant to your collection, as the container can be easily moved to a sheltered location over wintertime. Choose a pot that is wider than it is tall, as these plants spread via underground rhizome roots and will need some horizontal space. Ensure that the container has adequate drainage holes, and fill it with a well-draining soil amended with plenty of organic material like compost. After planting, apply a layer of mulch to the top of the container to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water Spigelia regularly to maintain a consistently moist soil; plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. Every few years when these plants outgrow their living situation (they form spreading clumps via underground rhizome roots), they will need to be divided. For instructions on how to successfully divide Spigelia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Spigelia, or Indian Pink, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Indian Pink, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Spigelia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Spigelia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.