| Author | Fernald | |
| Distribution | Limited to the Waccawaw River floodplain and a few adjacent tributaries, in eastern Columbus and western Brunswick counties.
This species has a highly disjunct range, found only in southern Nova Scotia, eastern MA and RI, then to southeastern NC and adjacent SC.
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| Abundance | Locally common along the Waccamaw River, but abundance can vary from year to year depending on water levels; most numerous in the upper (narrower) portions of the river, in Columbus County, and less numerous farther downriver where the river has high banks. Uncommon on tributaries. This is a State Threatened species. The NCNHP's State Rank of S2 is far too liberal, considering the limited number of records (7-8) and the fact that only several are consistently in good condition. And, considering that so many widespread Sabatia species in the state have a rank of S3, the State Rank of this species is clearly S1. | |
| Habitat | This species in NC occurs only along drawdown zones along a blackwater river and its tributaries, and thus water levels might be poor for large populations in some years, especially in very wet seasons. | |
| Phenology | Blooms from June to August, and fruits from August to October. | |
| Identification | This is the tallest species of Sabatia in the state, with some individuals reaching about 3-4 tall tall or more. The opposite stem leaves are lanceolate, about 2-3 inches long. Most of the numerous branches are opposite off the stem. Atop these many branches and stem grow single very large flowers, each on a somewhat short stalk. The flower has about 10 petals on average, bright rose to pink with yellow at the base, and the spread flower is about 2 inches across. In this species, in addition to the pink and yellow on a petal, there is a noticeable red band separating these colors, and the pink color on the petal tends to become white next to the red band. Thus, a flower has 4 colors from the tip to the middle/base -- rose-pink, white, red, and yellow! As would be expected, a 3-foot-tall plant in wet ground along the Waccamaw River, with often 10-20 or more scattered large (and multi-colored) flowers will catch attention! | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Older references, such as RAB (1968), listed this as a variety of S. dodecandra, as S. dodecandra var. kennedyana. All references now consider this as a valid species. Weakley (2018) states "Studies underway suggest that Carolina plants may differ varietally from those in New England (Sorrie, pers. comm.)".
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| Other Common Name(s) | Plymouth Gentian, Plymouth Rose | |
| State Rank | S2 [S1] | |
| Global Rank | G3G4 | |
| State Status | T | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | OBL link |
