Silene virginica aka Fire Pink

Silene virginica, or fire pink, is a wildflower. This perennial lives for a short time. It belongs to Caryophyllaceae, the carnation family. It grows wild in the central and eastern United States. It grows in open woods, on rocky slopes and bluffs, and in meadows. Some local groups are rare. North Carolina State Extension reports it as endangered in three states. These are Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Plants form clumps with thin stems and a taproot. Most stems stand upright. Garden plants reach about 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 metres) tall. North Carolina State Extension reports some reach 3 feet (0.91 metres). Clumps spread about 0.8–2 feet (0.25–0.61 metres). Green stems branch near the base and can be weak. Soft hairs and sticky glands coat them. The sticky coat traps small insects. Most leaves grow near the plant's base. These green leaves range from lance-shaped to spoon-shaped. Narrower leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of stems. Young leaves have hairs but lose most with age. Leaf edges have no teeth. The plant sheds its leaves, a trait called deciduous.

Loose flower groups, called cymes, grow at stem tips. Each holds three to ten blooms. Each bloom has five scarlet petals with deep notches at their tips. Flowers span about 0.08–0.17 feet (0.025–0.051 metres). Joined sepals form a sticky tube below the petals. Sources give different bloom dates. Missouri Botanical Garden gives April through June. North Carolina State Extension gives late May through early July. Hummingbirds and butterflies sip nectar from the blooms. Tan, egg-shaped seed cases, called capsules, follow in summer. Each opens and sheds many rough, flat, kidney-shaped seeds. Juncos, pine siskins, sparrows, and other songbirds eat the seeds.

Grow fire pink in soil that drains well. Keep soil moisture dry to medium. Sand, gravel, and light loam suit it; it tolerates clay. North Carolina State Extension lists acid soil. Both garden sources stress that soil must drain well. Plants accept full sun; some afternoon shade helps them. They also grow on shaded, rocky ledges. Once established, plants cope with drought and dry ground. They also cope with shallow, rocky soil. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8.

Fire pink suits meadows and open woodland gardens. It fits plantings left to spread on their own. It also suits rock gardens and the front of borders. Letting plants set seed can help keep a short-lived planting going. Growers can use seed, stem cuttings, or division. Divide plants in late fall or early spring. Neither garden source reports major pest or disease problems. North Carolina State Extension notes moderate deer resistance. It also lists a low risk of catching fire.