Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Orange Slices Indian Pink: Native Hummingbird Candles for Shade
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Orange Slices Indian pink is a native Spigelia marilandica with narrow tubular flowers that stand straight up along the stem tops like little candles. Each one is orange-red outside and flares into a small five-pointed star with a pale butter-yellow interior. Hummingbirds find it quickly.
It is a little shorter than its sibling Apple Slices, with a dense, rounded habit and clean, glossy leaves.
Orange Slices at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Spigelia marilandica 'Orange Slices' |
| Flowers | Upright tubes 1.5 to 2 inches long, orange-red with a pale yellow star |
| Foliage | Glossy green, oval to lance-shaped |
| Size | 16 to 20 inches tall, 16 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Begins in early summer for four to five weeks, peaks late June, small repeat possible in fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6 to 9 |
| Light | Part shade to full sun |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators, a hummingbird favorite |
An honest note on pairing with lavender
Lavender wants dry, lean, blazing-sun ground. Indian pink wants humus-rich soil that never fully dries and a bit of shade. They will not share a bed happily. What they can share is a garden plan: lavender out in the open sun, Orange Slices along the shaded edge where the lawn meets the trees, so hummingbirds work one side of the yard while bees work the other.
The Companion Plant Planner helps sort sun and shade zones on one property.
Planting and first seasons
- Light: part shade is easiest. More sun means more flowers but also more watering, and afternoon shade helps in hot spots.
- Soil: average to rich, evenly moist and well drained. Waterlogged soil can cause root rot.
- Patience: it is slow to establish but long-lived once it does.
- Deadheading: the flowers drop cleanly on their own. Trimming after the first flush may encourage fall flowers.
- Pests: slugs sometimes chew young shoots in spring.
Michigan winters
Orange Slices is rated to zone 6, which puts much of Michigan at or past its limit. Choose a sheltered spot, mulch the crown after the ground freezes and mark where it grows. It comes up late in spring, and more than one gardener has planted something new on top of it in April. Check your zone with the USDA Zone Finder before you order.
Good to know
Indian pink is grown as an ornamental and is considered toxic, especially the roots, so keep it out of the kitchen garden. It has no notable fragrance. The bare root plant goes straight into prepared soil; see the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from Apple Slices?
Orange Slices is a little shorter, with a dense, rounded habit, and its spent flowers fall away cleanly.
Will hummingbirds really visit?
The upright tubular flowers are built for them, and the species has a great pollinator rating.
Do deer eat Indian pink?
It is moderately deer resistant, so it is browsed less than many shade perennials.
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