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Native Plant Society of Texas

Pink Thoroughwort

Fleischmannia incarnata

Other common name(s):

Pink Slender Thoroughwort

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
6
ft.

Spread

3
to
4
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Moist, Sand

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Riparian, Wetland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple, White

Bloom Season

Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Very little maintenance needed. It prefers moist soils. Native habitat: moist woodlands, thickets, marshes, and along streambanks.

Description

Blooms October-December. Stems branching and sprawling. Leaves triangular with serrated margins. Produces numerous flower heads in a flat-topped arrangement at the ends of the stems. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Eupatorium incarnatum

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow the seeds in seed trays or small pots filled with seed-starting mix. Keep the soil moist and warm. Expect seeds to germinate within a few weeks, though it may take longer. Once seedlings develop a few true leaves, you can gently move them into larger containers or the garden. Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds. 1) https://www.picturethisai.com/wiki/Fleischmannia_incarnata.html#:~:text=Water:%20Pink%20slender%2Dthoroughwort%20thrives,handling%20and%20growing%20medium%20quality 2) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-fleischmannia-incarnata/?amp=1&print=pdf
Stem Cutting Remove any leaves that would be submerged in water. Fill a jar or container with clean water, ensuring it’s deep enough to submerge the cut end of the stem. Change the water frequently to prevent algae growth. Root development can take a few weeks or even months. Once the cutting has developed a healthy root system, you can gently pot it in well- draining soil. Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem from your Fleischmannia. The ideal time for this is in spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. Make a clean, angled cut just below a node (where a leaf or branch grows). https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-fleischmannia-incarnata/?amp=1&print=pdf
Clump Division Plant each division in a well-prepared container or garden bed, ensuring the roots are spread out and the crown of the plant is at or slightly above soil level. The best time for division is usually in early spring or late summer when growth is active. Gentle Excavation: Carefully dig up the clump and gently separate it into smaller divisions. Each division should have its own roots and healthy aerial growth. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-fleischmannia-incarnata/?amp=1&print=pdf

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason