fire pink
Silene virginica
Commonly called 'catchfly' because its sticky calyx and stem trap small insects, preventing them from stealing nectar without pollinating the flower.
- Scientific name
- Silene virginica
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Caryophyllaceae › Silene
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Open deciduous forests, rocky slopes, and woodland edges.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (requires sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- Eastern United States, Central United States
- Size
- 20 to 80 centimeters in height
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years (short-lived perennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, competition from invasive plant species, and over-browsing by deer.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Observe the vibrant red flowers from a distance to avoid trampling the delicate root system. Do not pick the flowers, as they are a vital early-season energy source for migrating hummingbirds.
Silene virginica , the fire pink , is a wildflower in the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. It is known for its distinct brilliant red flowers. Each flower is approximately five centimeters in diameter and composed of five notched, brilliant red petals which extend into a long tube. It is a small (20-80 cm tall), short-lived perennial (2-3 years), with lance shaped leaves. Its stems, and the bases of the flowers, are covered in short sticky hairs. Fire pink begins...
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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