Cuthbertia rosea (Vent.) Small

Piedmont Roseling; Common Roseling

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Common Roseling is a native herbaceous perennial in the Spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). It can be found in the southeastern portion of the state. Common Roseling occurs in sandhills, in pine or mixed pine/hardwood forests, and on roadsides. It is an erect clump-forming herbaceous perennial with thin, sparsely pubescent roots. The leaves are sessile, linear, 2-ranked, with ciliate margins and glabrous sheaths. The leaf blade is as wide as the opened sheath. Flowers are produced in terminal or axillary spike-like aggregates of cymes. The inflorescence is subtended by minute scarious bracts. Individual flowers have a long peduncle, 3 green or pinkish sepals, 3 rose or pink petals, and 6 stamens with pubescent filaments. The fruit is a papery 3-locular capsule. The flowers open early in the morning and close before noon. Common Roseling appears very similar to a small Spiderwort, and has been placed in the genus Tradescantia in the past. It differs by its small inconspicuous bracts. Common Roseling is an attractive native species, and works well as a border plant, in rock gardens, or as a low ground cover. It is disease, insect, and drought tolerant. Plants are available from some nurseries, or it can be grown from seed. The capsules mature 2-3 weeks after flowering and seed can be planted immediately or stored in the refrigerator until spring. Large clumps can be dug in the autumn and separated to produced more plants.—A. Diamond.

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Native

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