1 / 10

Sabatia angularis

Rosepink

Gentianaceae Central and eastern United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 5–9

Overview

Sabatia angularis is a biennial herb growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall, forming a low rosette in its first year and a branched, flowering stem in its second. The erect stems are distinctly four-angled with narrow wings along the edges, carrying opposite, ovate leaves 0.75-1.5 inch (2-4 cm) long that clasp the stem at the base. Flowers are 1-1.5 inch (2.5-4 cm) across with five rose-pink petals, occasionally white, surrounding a yellow-green, red-edged star at the center. Blooms appear in branched clusters at the stem tips through midsummer and carry a faint sweet scent. The fruit is a small capsule holding numerous tiny seeds. After flowering and setting seed, the plant dies, completing its two-year cycle. It grows in moist meadows, prairies, open woods, and roadside ditches, and depends on fresh seed each year to maintain a stand. Dry soil and dense shade reduce flowering and seedling survival.

Native Range

Sabatia angularis is native to the central and eastern United States, from New York and Ontario west to Kansas and south to Florida and Texas. It grows in moist prairies, meadows, open woodlands, and disturbed roadsides.

Suggested Uses

Planted in meadow gardens, native plant beds, and naturalized moist borders. It combines with ornamental grasses and other summer prairie wildflowers. The flowers supply nectar for bees and butterflies.

How to Identify

Identify Sabatia angularis by its square, narrowly winged stems and opposite, stem-clasping leaves, topped with rose-pink five-petaled flowers about 1-1.5 inch (2.5-4 cm) wide. Each flower has a yellow-green central star outlined in red, separating it from the white-flowered S. brachiata. The branched, candelabra-like flowering habit appears in the second year.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread10" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Flowers open from early to late summer, generally June to August, on second-year plants. The branched clusters bloom in succession over four to six weeks. Each flower lasts several days, and the faint fragrance is strongest in warm midday sun.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Sabatia angularis in full sun to part shade in moist, average to sandy soil. It tolerates a pH from 5.5 to 7.0 and needs steady moisture during the growing season. As a biennial it sets a leafy rosette the first year and flowers the second, then dies, so fresh seed sown each year maintains a continuous stand. The seed needs light to germinate and is surface-sown rather than buried. The plant transplants poorly because of its taproot and is usually started in its final position. Dense competition and dry soil thin out seedlings.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Removing spent flowering stems before the seed drops reduces self-sowing, while leaving them allows the stand to renew. Cut stems can be left standing through winter for seed dispersal.