# fire pink (*Silene virginica*) Fire pink is a beautiful flower that blooms in bright red. It loves to grow in sunny places and can often be found in meadows and along roadsides, bringing color to nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Meadows ![fire pink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Silene_virginica_%28closeup%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: (user Arx Fortis ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silene_virginica_%28closeup%29.jpg) ## Appearance The fire pink has incredibly vibrant, star-shaped flowers with five deeply notched, fiery red petals. Its sticky stems and calyx stand out against bright green leaves, making it visually distinct in woodland undergrowth. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Silene ## Interesting facts - Fire pink belongs to the 'pink' family, named for the jagged edges of its petals, not its color! - Its bright red color is so intense, it can be spotted easily from far away in a forest. - Some Native American tribes traditionally used parts of this plant for medicinal purposes, like treating eye issues. - Unlike many plants, fire pink often uses sticky hairs on its stem to defend against tiny munching pests. ## Special abilities - **Sticky Defender:** Fire pink has super sticky stems that can trap small crawling insects, stopping them from reaching and munching on its delicate flowers. - **Beacon for Birds:** Its brilliant red flowers are like a bright signal, attracting hummingbirds that visit and help it spread its pollen far and wide. - **Root Anchor:** The fire pink has deep roots that help it survive in dry, rocky soils where other plants might struggle to find enough water. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-80 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — visits for nectar, carrying pollen between flowers - **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — adult butterflies drink nectar from the bright blooms - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — deer may browse on its leaves and stems in early spring ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers in the wild, as some can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fire pink? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is fire pink? 30-80 cm ### How wide does fire pink spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on fire pink? 2-3 cm ### When does fire pink bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is fire pink edible? No ### Is fire pink toxic? Mild ### What is fire pink's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Kickapoo State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kickapoo-state-recreation-area) — Illinois, US · State Park - [Lily Gardens Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lily-gardens-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Miami Whitewater Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-whitewater-forest) — Ohio, US · Park - [Red River Gorge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-gorge) — Kentucky, US · Natural Landmark - [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see fire pink](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fire-pink) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Fire Pink: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fire-pink)