Silene caroliniana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-LEE-nee kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-uh
- Description
-
Wild-pink is a native perennial flower found in acidic sandy soils of open, dry, gravelly woodlands and slopes. This low growing wildflower may produce 50 to 100 flowers on a single plant. It has been listed as endangered in the state of Florida.
It prefers well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade and will do well in rock gardens or the front of the border. Avoid wet heavy soils to prevent root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Pollinator Garden- Full Sun
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Short and Sweet'
Blooms in the summer
- 'Short and Sweet'
- 'Short and Sweet'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Short and Sweet'
Blooms in the summer
- 'Short and Sweet'
- 'Short and Sweet'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Silene
- Species:
- caroliniana
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MA, MD, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and other insect pollinators
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval capsule displays from May to August
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 1 1/2" pink flowers bloom in perfusion from April to June. The flowers each have 5 petals, 10 stamens, and 3 styles.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small oval to lanced-shaped leaves with entire margins are up to 1.25 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Tapers at the base and short pointed at the tip. Few hairs present.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
