Silene virginica
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lychnis virginica
- Melandrium virginicum
- Silene catesbaei
- Silene virginica var. hallensis
- Silene virginica var. robusta
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-LEE-nee vir-JIN-ih-kuh
- Description
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Fire Pink is a short-lived, herbaceous perennial that may grow 2 to 3 feet tall and has hairy, sticky stems. The majority of leaves originate at the base of the stem and have 2 to 8 pairs of stem leaves. Each stem terminates in a cyme of 3 to 10 scarlet flowers that are five-petaled and notched on the tips. They bloom from late May to early July. The plant is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family that includes carnations and pinks.
Fire Pink is native to the central and eastern United States. It may be found in woodlands bluffs, rocky slopes, or meadows. According to the U.S. Forest Service, Fire Pink is relatively uncommon and considered rare in some locales. The plant is classified as endangered in Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The genus name, Silene, is derived from "catchfly" or "campion." The plants in this genus have sticky hairs that discourage ants and other insects from eating the plant. The species name, virginica, means "of Virginia."
The plant thrives in partial sun with dry to medium moist well-drained soils of sand. gravel, or light loam. The plant will tolerate full sun but prefers afternoon shade. It is dry soil, drought, and rocky soil tolerant. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. They are propagated by seeds, cuttings, and division. The division is best done in late fall or early spring. This plant has a low flammability rating.
The Fire Pink plant is mostly erect but has weak stems and has a taproot. The stems are hairy and sticky with medium to dark green basal and stem leaves. The upper stems terminate in cymes of loosely arranged flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer. The flowers are scarlet red and have five spreading petals that are deeply notched at the tips. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule during the summer.
The plant may be used in borders or rock gardens. It is probably best grown in meadows, woodlands, naturalized areas so that it may freely reseed itself.
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
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring and Summer Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall Fruit: Summer
Quick ID Hints:
- green mostly erect, hairy, sticky stems
- basal leaves of medium to dark green that appear lanceolate to spatulate
- opposite stem leaves occur in 2 to 8 pairs
- each stem terminates in cymes of 3 to 10 blooms
- flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter with five scarlet red spreading petals with deeply notched tips
- flowers are replaced by a tan seed capsule
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fire Pink is generally pest and disease-free.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. virginica
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- var. virginica
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Silene
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Caryophyllaeae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- Native: AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV, and WI
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Songbirds such as juncos pine siskins, sparrow, and lark 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: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is replaced by a tan-colored, ovoid capsule that has 6 teeth at the opening. When the capsule splits open, it releases many flat, rough, kidney-shaped, gray-colored seeds. The fruits appear from late June through late July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Each stem has a terminal cyme of 3 to 10 flowers that are loosely arranged. The flowers measure 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter and are scarlet or crimson red. They have 5 spreading, narrow, notched petals. The calyx is tubular and green to purple. The greenish sepals tinged with red are united into a sticky tube with a 5-toothed rim. There are 10 stamens and 3 styles that are shorter than the petals. Flowers bloom from late May to early July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are medium to dark green with basal and stem leaves. The basal leaves are lanceolate to spatulate in shape and measure up to 4 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches wide. The stem leaves are up to 6 inches long, appear opposite, and occur in 2 to 8 pairs. Young leaves are hairy, but they become nearly hairless as they mature. The margins are entire.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are mostly erect, glandular, sticky, and hairy. The sticky substance traps small insects. The stem branches at the base with the basal leaves. The upper stems terminate in cymes of flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Poor Soil
