Sabatia angularis (L.) Pursh

Square Stem Rose Gentian; Common Rose Pink; Bitter Bloom

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Common Rose Pink is a native herbaceous annual or biennial in the Gentian family (Gentianaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Common Rose Pink occurs in prairies, in cedar glades, on limestone outcrops, in rich forests, and on roadsides. It shows the best growth in moist areas. During its early growth, it consists of a low rosette of rounded leaves with a tap root. Later in the season or in the second year it produces erect stems that are 1-2 feet in height and much-branched above the middle. The stems are green in color, 4-angled, winged, and glabrous. Leaves are opposite, sessile and clasping the stem, ovate in outline, and glabrous. Fragrant flowers are produced in a panicle. Individual flowers have 5 narrow calyx lobes and 5 pink or rarely white corolla lobes. The center of the corolla is yellow, outlined in red. This forms a 5-pointed star shape in the center of the flower. The fruit is a capsule. Common Rose Pink is available as seed from some nurseries. The seed should be sown in the autumn in a moist, loamy soil. Plants prefer full sun, but will grow in light shade. The plant has a bitter taste, and is avoided by most herbivores.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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