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Fire Pink Wikimedia Commons
Caryophyllaceae

Fire Pink

Silene virginica

Burning love.

Family
Caryophyllaceae
Genus
Silene
Native to
Eastern United States
Bloom season
Spring, Early Summer
Type
perennial herb
Height
10-24 in
Sunlight
part shade
Soil
well-drained, rocky
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Despite its name, it's brilliant scarlet — the 'pink' refers to the notched petals (as in 'pinking shears').
  • The sticky stems trap small insects, which has earned plants in this genus the nickname 'catchfly.'
  • Hummingbirds are its primary pollinators, drawn to the deep red tubular flowers.
  • It often grows on shaded rocky cliff edges where few other showy wildflowers can establish.
  • The five petals are deeply notched at the tip, giving each flower the appearance of having ten.

Color meanings

0

passion

1

wild devotion

Uses

  • woodland gardens
  • rock gardens
  • hummingbird habitat