Pretty in pink comes in three shades at the Goodwood Spring Plant Sale
What’s in a name? Dianthus Bath’s Pink, Pink swamp milkweed, Indian Pinks. These are just a few of the hundreds of plants offered at Goodwood’s Spring Plant Sale on April 8.
Dianthus Bath's Pink
Bath’s Pink, Dianthus gratianopolitanus, like many dianthus species, is various shades of pink, however the name pink does not refer to the color, but the fringed flowers, which are “pinked.” That is, they have a zig zag edge as if cut by pinking shears.
This perennial species was found by a Georgia gardener, Jane Bath, who took it to Goodness Grows Nursery near Athens for identification. It was determined to be an unknown species and was named for her. I bought my plant there in 2004, and it’s still going strong.
The plants at the sale are cuttings from my garden. I’ve moved it around my terraced garden borders, where it drapes over the edges; good drainage is a must. It is also known as the Cheddar pink or clove pink for its fragrance.
Pink swamp milkweed
You’ll find two of my favorite native plants at the sale: Pink swamp milkweed and Indian Pinks. Pink swamp milkweed, Asclepius incarnata, is one of the best milkweeds for our area and works well in the home garden. It has rose-purple flowers on top of tall, sturdy stem. Its abundant leaves are a favorite of the Monarch butterfly.
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Indian pink
Indian pink, Spigelia marilandica, is an herbacious perennial wildflower native to our region that is an underused plant in the home garden. It’s been introduced to the nursery trade in the UK and Europe, where it’s very popular as an ornamental landscape plant. I have it growing in part-shade in my garden, where it has spread into clumps and also reseeded. The plants glow with their red (not pink) tubular flower that are lemon yellow inside and flare at the top to form five a pointed yellow star (pinked?). Indian ink, aka woodland pinkroot, is a hummingbird favorite.
Plant sale
Getting back to the color pink. According to Wikipedia, the color pink, which became fashionable in the late 17th century, takes its name from the flowers called pinks, which are members of the genus Dianthus.
The plant sale will include a wide variety of passalong perennials, ornamental vines, shrubs, groundcovers, annuals and vegetables propagated by Goodwood’s garden volunteers. A number of hard-to-find heirloom varieties are featured.
The 2023 Goodwood Spring Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Virginia McKee Greenhouse. Come early for the best selection.
There will be two vendors, Argonaut Coffee and 88 Crepes at Goodwood during the sale, and the Leon County library will have an informational booth about their seed library. The sale will continue on the following two Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon.
Rose Rodriguez is a Goodwood Garden volunteer.
If you go
What: Goodwood Spring Plant Sale
When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 8
Where: Goodwood Museum and Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Punch up your garden with three shades of pink at Goodwood plant sale
