# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 48 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Lychnis flos-cuculi ![ragged-robin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2024-06-22_Kuckucks-Lichtnelke_VON_OBEN_im_FFH-Gebiet_Belziger_Bach.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mimi und Ruebi, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2024-06-22_Kuckucks-Lichtnelke_VON_OBEN_im_FFH-Gebiet_Belziger_Bach.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Silene ## 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 - **Fringe Appeal:** ragged-robin's deeply split petals create a showy fringe that helps it stand out and attract busy pollinators from afar. - **Wet Feet Friendly:** ragged-robin can thrive in damp meadows and marshy ground, thanks to roots adapted to soggy, waterlogged soil. - **Saponin Shield:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs occasionally graze on leaves and petals. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify ragged-robin? 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 ragged-robin? 30-90 cm ### How wide does ragged-robin spread? 20-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on ragged-robin? 2-3 cm ### When does ragged-robin bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is ragged-robin edible? No ### Is ragged-robin toxic? Mild ### What is ragged-robin's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Canton Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canton-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Center Square/Hudson–Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/center-square-hudson-park-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [East Plymouth Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-plymouth-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Enfield Shaker Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enfield-shaker-museum) — New Hampshire, US · Museum [View all places to see ragged-robin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ragged-robin) ## 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: [Ragged-robin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ragged-robin)