Silene virginica L.

Fire Pink

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Fire Pink is a native perennial in the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae). It is native to the northern two-thirds of Alabama. Fire Pink occurs in mesic to dry hardwood forests, on roadside banks, on rocky slopes, and on bluffs. It is a perennial with a taproot. Each taproot produces a cluster of basal leaves. One or more taller flowering stems in produced in the spring. Basal leaves are petiolate with cilia (hairs) on the petiole. The blade is oblanceolate to spatulate in outline and glabrous. Leaves on flowering stems are opposite, reduced in size, and are sessile. Flowering stems are unbranched below the inflorescence, and glandular pubescent. Small insects are often trapped in the glandular hairs, giving these plants one of their alternate common names “catch-fly”. The inflorescence is open with elongated branches. Each inflorescence produces from 7-11 flowers. Each flower is subtended by a leaf-like bract. Flowers consist of a densely glandular tubular green calyx and five spreading red petals. Petals are notched at the apex. The fruit is a capsule that is surrounded by the papery calyx. Each capsule contains several reniform (kidney shaped) seed with a warty seed coat. The main pollinator of the Fire Pink is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Fire Pink is often available from native plant nurseries. It prefers full to partial sun, and mesic to dry soils with excellent drainage. Plants are often short-lived, but will often re-seed themselves in the garden. Sometimes hybridizes with Silene caroliniana var. wherryi.--A. Diamond

**

Native

**