Rhexia virginica aka Handsome Harry

Rhexia virginica is a wildflower that lives for many years. It belongs to the Melastomataceae family. Its names include meadow beauty and Virginia meadow-beauty. It is native to eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. It grows in wet meadows, bogs, and other wetlands. It also grows on slopes where water seeps out. Open sandy ground is another place it grows. Wild plants grow in wet peat, sand, and gravel.

The plant grows from swollen tubers, which lie underground. It forms clumps that spread. Short plants stand upright, while taller stems may sprawl. Sources differ on how far or fast clumps spread. One describes small clumps; another says they spread fast. Each stem has four sides with narrow wings along them. Stems range from pale green to green tinged with purple. Hairs with glands cover the stems, which branch near their tops. Green leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of each stem. Each simple leaf is oval, with small, bristly teeth along its edge.

Loose groups of flowers grow near the stem tips. Blooms range from pink to purple-pink and have yellow anthers. White flowers also occur. The calyx is a hairy tube beneath each flower. Flowers open in the morning and may drop petals by midday. Bloom often lasts about a month in late summer. Records across its range show bloom from May through October. Green seed cases, called capsules, form after the flowers. They have the shape of an urn. They turn copper-brown and brittle as their seeds ripen. The capsules can turn red in autumn and stay through winter.

Grow meadow beauty in sun or part shade. It needs moist soil that drains well, with some wet spells. Sandy soil suits it, as does a moist, peaty mix. It prefers acid soil, though reports also list neutral soil as suitable. It grows in bog gardens and copes with heat. North Carolina State lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. Use it near ponds, in borders, or in groups. It suits native gardens and plantings that draw pollinators. Bumblebees carry pollen from one flower to another. Butterflies and moths visit too. Deer often browse and harm plants. Plants can self-seed, and growers can raise plants from seed.

Plants For A Future lists leaves and roots as edible. You can eat leaves raw or cooked. They taste sweet and tart, though the taste is mild. You can chop raw roots into salads. Leaves and stems also yield a sour drink. That source lists no known hazards; this does not prove safety. It also notes a throat rinse made from leaves and stems in past use.