Silene virginica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-LEE-nee vir-JIN-ih-kuh
- Description
-
Fire Pink is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Its leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The majority of leaves originate at the base of the stem. Scarlet flowers that are notched on the tip mature from mid-spring through early summer.
This plant was selected as the 2015 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring, Summer; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Summer
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. virginica
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. virginica
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Silene
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Caryophyllaeae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape. Fire Pink is moderately resistant to deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- 1 in. brilliant red flower with five spreading petals that are 2-pronged at the tip; greenish sepals tinged with red are united into a sticky tube with a 5-toothed rim. Blooms from April to July.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Widely spaced pairs of narrow leaves; lower leaves are 3 to 5 in. long
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
