Rhexia nashii

Maid Marian (Rhexia nashii)

Rhexia nashii

This native Georgia wildflower thrives in the edges of Carver's wetland, where students engage in authentic field investigations to identify, collect, and propagate its seeds. Known for its distinctive pink-violet blooms with curved yellow stamens, Rhexia nashii grows in moist, acidic sandy clay soils.

Students describe its seed capsules as “little pots,” and they’ve learned to observe its life cycle closely and harvest the seedpods when they are dry and brown. When collecting, students are careful not to "turn the seedpod upside down."

Collection Site: GPS Coordinates: 31.93643, -81.31258 (±45m) | Carver Wetland

National Wetland Plant Database
Maid Marian on NatureServe
Maid Marian on NC Wetland Plants
Carver iNaturalist Rhexia nashii

Rhexia nashii flower

Rhexia nashii fruit

Habitat: Thrives in wet, nutrient-poor, acidic soils in various wetland environments, including wet pine flatwoods and savannas, pond shores, bogs, marshes, ditches, and damp roadsides. Facultative Wetland (FACW) Usually occur in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands.
When to Collect: When seed pods turn brown and dry
When to Plant: Early spring after cold stratification (store in fridge for 60–90 days)
How to Plant: Sow lightly in moist, sandy soil; keep consistently damp but well-drained
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Preference: Sandy peat or sandy clay; acidic conditions
Growth Notes: May reseed naturally in wet areas; prune in spring to encourage new growth
Fun Fact: Petals fade after pollination, signaling bees that the flower has been visited

Directions for Cold Stratification

Collect mature seed once the seed capsules have turned brown and dry.
Clean the seed (remove chaff or debris) and place in a paper envelope or breathable bag.
Mix the seed with a moist medium such as peat moss or fine sand (moist, not soggy).
Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag or container and refrigerate at approximately 35–41 °F (2–5 °C) for 60–90 days.
After stratification, sow the seed in a well-drained, moist medium (acidic, sandy or sandy-peat soil) either in greenhouse trays or directly outdoors in a prepared native habitat site.
Provide full sun to partial shade, keep the soil consistently moist, and monitor for germination—ensure that the surface is lightly covered or exposed if seeds require light.

Sowing instructions:

After stratification, sow seeds on the surface of a moist, well-drained native-plant mix or sandy-peat soil. Keep the seedbed lightly covered or simply pressed into the surface; do not bury deeply.
Keep the growing medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. A light misting or gentle watering is preferable to avoid dislodging small seeds.
Place trays or pots in a location of full sun to part shade; hot midday sun is acceptable if soil remains moist.
When seedlings are large enough to handle (typically after true leaves appear and root systems are visible), transplant into prepared habitat plots—such as the wetland edge or bioswale—where soil remains moist, acidic, and sandy or sandy-clay in nature.
Tag each planting plot with seed source, soil series (e.g., Ogeechee vs. Pooler soils), date planted and experimental conditions. Students should record survival, height, leaf count, and flowering time in journals.
After establishment, monitor seasonal seed set, and once mature, collect seed when the seed heads turn brown and dry. Clean and dry the seed before placing in the Seed Library.

Page updated

Report abuse