This aptly named biennial wildflower beguiles the senses with sweet fragrance and bewitching color. Each rose-pink petal has a yellow triangle at its base, and each triangle appears to be carefully outlined by a reddish-pink pencil; the overall effect is of a festive star in the center of each flower. From July to September, the blooms close at night and open during the day to release a delicate fragrance. Small, green leaves play second fiddle to the profusion of pink flowers. 
 
Rose-pink spends its first year as a low rosette of leaves before  flowering in its second year, which often results in a varying number of blooming plants from year to year. It self-seeds readily to keep the population going. In the wild, rose-pink is often found in moist, open areas where it thrives in sites with full sun or light shade and moisture. It prefers soils with some acidity, but it adapts to a range of soil types, such as loamy, sandy, clay, and rocky. A few sources say that it tolerates dry soils, also. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources notes that rose-pink is scattered throughout Ohio but is largely absent  from the heavily farmed northwestern quarter of the state. It’s most common in the southern half of the state where large populations are often seen.
 
Sabatia is a genus of about 20 species of plants in the Gentianaceae family that are native to central and eastern North America. Angularis refers to the angular four-sided stem. 
 
Native habitats include glades, prairies, upland ridges, fallow fields, margins and openings of woods, thickets, barrens and roadsides. Use in open areas for naturalizing, near water features, on slopes, and in sunny gardens. 
 
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 1-2' tall.
 
Prefers full sun or light shade.
 
Prefers moist, well-drained, fairly acidic soils that may be loamy, sandy, silty, clay, or rocky. Tolerates drier soils. 
 
Blooming season is July-September with 1 - 1.5" flowers borne at the top of the plant in small groups. Each flower has 5 spreading petals; 5 stamens with yellow anthers; a green calyx with 5 lance-shaped sepals; and a central, yellow, divided style. Triangular spots at base of petals are green or yellow.  Single-celled, 1/3" seed capsules contain many tiny seeds that are carried by wind or water.
 
Opposite, egg-shaped leaves are sessile and may be slightly clasping the stem. Margins are toothless.  
 
Stem is four-sided, winged; it is unbranched below and oppositely branched above. Upper stems terminate in cymes of flowers.
 
The root system is shallow and fibrous.
 
Reproductive System: each flower has both male and female parts (perfect). Self-seeds readily to reproduce. 
 
Wildlife Value:
Host plant for larvae of short-lined chocolate moth (Agyrostrotis anilis). Cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers. Provides nectar and pollen for many species of insects, including little carpenter and large leaf-cutting bees. Bitter foliage may deter deer browse. 
 
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
A tonic tea is made from the plant.
 
Resources:
Clifton Institute: https://cliftoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Rose-pink-Sabatia-angularis.pdf
 
Illinois Wildflowers: https://tinyurl.com/mwjvn479
 
Missouri Dept of Conservation: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/rose-pink-rose-gentian
 
Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves: https://www.facebook.com/ohiodnap/posts/363493722491619/
 
Plants for a Future: https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Sabatia+angularis
 
Virginia Wildflowers: https://virginiawildflowers.org/2024/08/09/common-rose-pink/
 
Wikipedia: https://tinyurl.com/bdzfd36y