Scott Zona, Wikimedia Commons Contributor
Family
Orchidaceae
Botanical Name
CALOPOGON multiflorus
Plant Common Name
Grasspink, Manyflower Grasspink
General Description
Heavily perfumed, sometimes with a pungent scent, the manyflower grasspink bears rose-magenta or purplish-rose blossoms in springtime. This wildflower is native to the seasonally moist-to-dry sandy soils across the American southeastern coastal plain. It is a rare orchid in the wild, largely due to pine flatwood habitat destruction. The densest populations can be found in Central Florida.
Manyflower grasspink grows from an elongated corm (bulb-like root) that forks over time. Its slender, grass-like leaves are parallel-veined and bright medium green. In early to late-spring, each plant produces a tall, upright stem with two to 15 blossoms that open almost in unison. The stems are blushed with purple just under the flowers, and later return to green after the flowering season ends. The blossoms are rarely pink and more often purplish crimson or magenta. Each flower displays five petals which surround a curved, anvil-headed floral tube. The upper petal sports a bright yellow tuft or "beard" of trichomes that resembles a mass of pollen. Once a pollinating bee lands on the blossom's lip petal, the upper bearded petal folds down and dots pollen onto the back of the insect. When the bee visits the next flower, its backside wipes pollen onto another flower's floral tube. Seed capsules follow and release seeds by autumn.
Easily grown from seed, manyflower grasspink prospers in sandy, somewhat moist, acid soil with some organic matter. This orchid needs full to partial sun to thrive. It is adapted to grassland fires and will prosper and bloom just after a fire passes. Plant it in a naturalistic wildflower meadow garden. Happy plants will naturalize over time. When not in flower, grasspinks look just like grasses, as the common name suggests.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 6
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 12
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
7"-20" / 17.8cm - 50.8cm
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Width
2"-6" / 5.1cm - 15.2cm
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Purple, Pink, Magenta
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Light Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Mixed Border, Wildflower
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes
