Fire Pink
(Silene virginica)
Fire Pink (Silene virginica)
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John P Friel
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
John P Friel
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: John P Friel | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: John P Friel | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2018-05-18T15:59:30-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Silene virginica, commonly known as Fire Pink, is a deciduous perennial herb native to open woodlands, rocky slopes, and forest edges in the Eastern and Central USA. It typically grows 20–80 cm tall and is a short-lived perennial with a lifespan of 2–3 years. Fire Pink is celebrated for its vibrant, brilliant red flowers, each about five centimeters in diameter, featuring five notched petals that form a long tube. The stems and flower bases are adorned with short sticky hairs. Its lance-shaped leaves add to its delicate appearance. Flowering occurs from late spring to summer, with the blooms being particularly showy and attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Fire Pink is valued for its striking red flowers and is often used in wildflower, shade, and rock gardens. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade and prefers low to medium water, thriving in well-drained soils. While it is not a high-maintenance plant, it may require protection from slugs and snails, which find it attractive. Fire Pink is not commonly associated with serious diseases or pests, but it can be short-lived, which gardeners should consider when planning their garden design.CC BY-SA 4.0
Fire Pink is valued for its striking red flowers and is often used in wildflower, shade, and rock gardens. It is adaptable to full sun or part shade and prefers low to medium water, thriving in well-drained soils. While it is not a high-maintenance plant, it may require protection from slugs and snails, which find it attractive. Fire Pink is not commonly associated with serious diseases or pests, but it can be short-lived, which gardeners should consider when planning their garden design.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-1.5 feet
- Width: 0.8-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Red
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Fire Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands, rocky slopes, and forest edges
Other Names
Common Names: Virginia Campion, Virginia Catchfly, Scarlet Catchfly, Fire-Pink, Silène De Virginie, Eldglim, Firepink
Scientific Names: , Silene virginica, Silene catesbaei, Silene fimbriata, Silene virginica var. virginica, Silene virginica var. robusta, Lychnis virginica, Melandrium virginicum, Silene coccinea, Silene virginica var. hallensis
GBIF Accepted Name: Silene virginica L.