ragged-robin

Silene flos-cuculi

Ragged-robin is a pretty flower with pink, frilly petals that look like they are dancing in the wind. It grows in meadows and wetlands, making the world a little brighter and happier.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The ragged-robin has striking bright pink to magenta flowers, each petal deeply cut into four narrow, ribbon-like segments, giving it a distinctively 'ragged' or fringed appearance. Its slender, often branched stems carry multiple delicate blooms, creating a vibrant splash of color in damp landscapes.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusSilene

ragged-robin

Interesting facts

Despite its delicate look, it often sways gently in strong winds without breaking, showing its resilience!

Its scientific name 'flos-cuculi' means 'cuckoo flower', hinting at its early summer bloom time!

Its tiny seeds can stay hidden in the soil for many years, patiently waiting for the best moment to grow!

Some folk tales say tiny pixies sleep nestled within the delicate, fringed petals of the ragged-robin!

Special abilities

ragged-robin's deeply split petals create a showy fringe that helps it stand out and attract busy pollinators from afar.

ragged-robin can thrive in damp meadows and marshy ground, thanks to roots adapted to soggy, waterlogged soil.

ragged-robin has bitter saponins in its leaves, which can deter some herbivores from munching on its foliage.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-90 cm
Spread: 20-45 cm
Flower Size: 2-3 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to mid-summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Red Admiral butterfly

Vanessa atalanta

Feeds on nectar, aiding flower reproduction.

eaten by

Black slug

Arion ater

Slugs occasionally graze on leaves and petals.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.