It (Helonias) is grown here in MA along side a pond, in a cold spot. It does fine in the winter even with all the hard freezes. The soil is rich in organics.

Thanks. I know they do find in the wild,but was wondering how well gardeners do with these plants.

I killed my swamp pink sadly--I think I planted in too rich of soil, and the water from yard drains into the area where I planted it. From what I researched after I killed it, helonias prefers poor soil, like what you did with the peat and sand. I also read too that with helonias that blooiming can be rare--in the wild only 20% or so of the plants will bloom.

It's a beautiful plant. I may retry it this year.

FYI: Swamp pink is endangered in MD. The one specimen I've seen in the wild is on a hummock in a well shaded forested wetland that is always saturated by groundwater, but never flooded. It likes acidic silt loam soils. I've also read that they flower as little as once every 10 years.

I've never tried to grow either in my garden, so I can't give specific advice on that. Good luck!

Yes I know lwood321 that they are rare and endangered here. About 89% of native plants are.

Below link includes Maryland's RT&E plant species. Helonias bullata is on both the state and Federal list. What routinely happens is that plants are wild-collected, and sold bareroot. Gardeners plant them, they languish and die. I would suggest everyone on this forum familiarize themselves with regulations regarding RT&E plant species in their respective states.
Sam

Here is a link that might be useful: Helonias bullata status