Location specific values:
Array
(
    [lat] => 42.077100
    [lng] => -87.728200
    [elevation] => 191.6607
    [rainfall] => 909.7832
    [cold_temperature] => -9.4287
    [temperature] => 28.0132
    [user_eto] => 875.98728933
)

Plant specific values:
Array
(
    [rain_min_irrigation] => 1321
    [eto_corrected] => 912
    [eto_adjusted_rain_min (rain_min_irrigation / eto_corrected)] => 1.29714912
)
Handsome Harry (Rhexia virginica) | Easyscape Plant Profile

Handsome Harry

(Rhexia virginica)

Handsome Harry (Rhexia virginica)

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Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Climate Requirements for Wilmette, Illinois

This Plant Your Site Plant Suitability for Your Location
• Precipitation 32" - 78" 36" Aquatic Aquatic
• High Temp. 68°F - 95°F 82°F Your summer temperatures are normal for this plant. Excellent
• Low Temp. 2°F - 53°F 15°F Your winter temperatures are normal for this plant Excellent
This plant should grow well at your location with about N inches per year (Y minutes per month) of irrigation.

Summary

Rhexia virginica, commonly known as Handsome Harry, is a perennial herb that can be deciduous or semi-deciduous, depending on the climate. It is native to wet meadows, savannas, and open pine barrens in the Eastern United States, as well as parts of Ontario and Nova Scotia. This plant typically grows to a height of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters) and a width of 1 foot (0.3 meters). Handsome Harry is characterized by its square, erect stems and lance-shaped leaves, with showy flowers that are pink, purple, or white, blooming profusely in the summer and fall. The flowers are notable for their prominent yellow stamens, which add to their attractiveness.

Handsome Harry is valued for its striking flowers and ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making it a beneficial addition to native plant gardens, rain gardens, and wetland restoration projects. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers consistently moist to wet soils with slow to medium drainage, mimicking its natural boggy habitat. While it is not commonly used in traditional landscaping, its ease of maintenance and tolerance of wet conditions make it a suitable choice for naturalistic plantings. Gardeners should be aware that Rhexia virginica can spread by rhizomes and may require management to keep it within bounds. It is not typically associated with serious diseases or pests, but can suffer in conditions that are too dry for its liking.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 1-2 feet
  • Width: 0.5-1 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: Pink, Purple
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium, High
  • Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Wet meadows, savannas, and open pine barrens

Other Names

Common Names: Virginia Meadow Beauty , Common Meadow Beauty , Virginia Meadow-Beauty , Rhexie De Virginie , Rhéxie De Virginie , Skär Ankarblomma

Scientific Names: Rhexia virginica , Rhexia virginica var. virginica , Rhexia virginica var. purshii , Rhexia stricta , Rhexia purshii , Rhexia septemnervia , Rhexia virginica var. septemnervia

GBIF Accepted Name: Rhexia virginica L.