Spigelia marilandica Ragin Cajun

Spigelia marilandica 'Ragin Cajun' is a 2016 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction of a selection we made in 2000 while botanizing near St. Francisville, Louisiana. In the garden, it makes a 20" tall, compact clump topped, starting in mid-May (NC), with flower clusters that are much more orange-red compared to the blood red of the other forms in the trade. Also, Spigelia 'Ragin Cajun' produces nearly 1/3 more flower heads than other forms we've grown, resulting in a denser clump...truly spectacular! Maintenance: Spigelia marilandica is an extremely low maintenance plant. Really all that is necessary is to cut it to the ground after frost turns it brown in late fall. Though a long-established plant could be divided, Spigelia is not a plant which requires periodic division to rejuvenate older plants. Left to its own devices, and with decent growing conditions, it should improve every year; each year bringing more stems and thus more flowers. Spigelia marilandica also stays put, it never needs to be reigned in since it doesn't travel anywhere. Growing Conditions: Spigelia marilandica is most often encountered as a woodland plant, though like many shade tolerant plants it will also thrive in full sun where it will grow stronger and bloom more. So it is a superb plant for either light shade or full sun. It will grow well in average soils that range from dry to moist. Natural Impact: Spigelia marilandica is very showy in bloom and its floral display is the reason to grow it. Its foliage is tidy, though not terribly interesting. The floral tube is a bright clear red and the petals are bright yellow where they divide and reflex open at the throat of the floral tube. The effect is yellow stars against a red background, one that attracts hummingbirds.