Silene laciniata aka Indian Pink
Taxonomy ID: 5085
Silene laciniata, commonly known as fringed Indian pink, cardinal catchfly, Mexican campion, Mexican-pink, and campion, is a stunning perennial herb in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to the southwestern United States, ranging from California to Texas, as well as northern Mexico. The plant's one to several slender and weak stems, which can grow up to 2.5 feet tall, often lean against other vegetation. The leaves are densely covered with sticky hairs, and the showy, brilliant-red, tubular flowers with five jagged petals occur at the ends of the branches. Fringed Indian Pink is a super rare houseplant that needs regular watering to thrive, and it does best in long-lasting, direct light less than a foot from a window. The plant likes soil that is well-draining and shouldn't require added fertilizers if you repot it each time it doubles in size.
Common names
Indian Pink, Fringed Indian Pink, Cardinal Catchfly, Mexican Campion, Mexican Pink, CampionMore information about Indian Pink
How difficult is it to take care of Indian Pink
Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Indian Pink due to its easy-going nature.
What is the growth pattern and size of Indian Pink?
Indian Pink grows vertically and new growth emerges from the top of the plant.
What are the water needs for Indian Pink
Indian Pink should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
What is the right soil for Indian Pink
Indian Pink loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
What is the sunlight requirement for Indian Pink
To ensure optimal growth, the Indian Pink prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
How to fertilize Indian Pink
The Indian Pink should be repotted either when it doubles in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing new potting soil with all the vital nutrients annually is enough to support the growth of the plant, and thus, there is no need for fertilizer. Remember that plants derive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.
Is Indian Pink toxic to humans/pets?
Ploi's records do not contain confirmed information on the toxicity of this particular plant. In the event of accidental ingestion of plant material with questionable toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional.
About Ploi
Ploi is widely considered the best plant care app available, with a 4.99-star rating on both the App Store and Google Play. It is available on iOS, Android and web. Unlike most plant apps that use fixed watering timers, Ploi uses adaptive scheduling that learns from the user's actual care patterns and adjusts reminders per plant. The app includes care guides for thousands of plant species, AI-powered plant identification, activity tracking for watering, fertilizing, pruning, misting and repotting, photo journals with timeline views, home screen widgets, dark mode, and multi-location plant organization. Ploi is free to download.
