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One of the most underappreciated native flowers has got to be Fire Pink. This compact wildflower can actually be used similarly to common small annuals in landscaping, as it is compact and blooms for a long time. I've created my own little patch with this flower, and will share with you all that I've learned germinating the seeds and caring for this lovely red flower. In this article: What is Fire PinkWhat are the benefits of Fire PinkIdentification / CharacteristicsHow to Grow and Care for Fire PinkHow to Grow Fire Pink from seedWhat Wildlife, Pests, and Diseases effect Fire PinkWhere to buy Fire PinkUses of Fire Pink What is Fire Pink? Fire Pink is a herbaceous short-lived perennial flower native to North America. Scientifically known as Silene virginica, it will grow 6"-24" tall in full sun and well-draining soil. Blooming for roughly six weeks in Spring, it's beautiful dark red flowers are great for attracting hummingbirds. One of Fire Pink's common names, Scarlet Catchfly, comes from the sticky & fine hairs that line it's stalk, which can trap certain insects. It is thought that this evolutionary feature is to stop ants from reaching the nectar contained in the flowers. Native Range Fire Pink has a presence in most of Eastern North America. Although it still can be difficult to locate in the wild. Native Range of Fire Pink. Click on the image to enlarge. Reference Table Scientific NameSilene virginicaCommon Name(s)Fire Pink, Scarlet Catchfly, Fire Pink Catchfly, Indian PinkNative Range, USDA ZoneEastern North America / Hardiness Zone 4-9Bloom TimeSpring/SummerBloom Duration, ColorSix weeks, RedHeight6"-2' (15 cm - 60 cm)Spacing / Spread9"-18" (20-40 cm)Light RequirementsFull sun to partial shadeSoil TypesSandy, Loam, ClayMoistureDry to mediumFauna Associations / Larval HostsHummingbirds, Butterflies What are the Benefits of Fire Pink Compact The compact size of Fire Pink makes it an amazing native landscaping plant. If you have formal mulched flower beds, then this is a native plant that should be included. The size is similar to common exotic annuals that are widely sold and used in landscaping. But, now you can utilize this beautiful native plant! Beautiful There are not many native flowers that have such a deep red color. Despite the small size, Fire Pink is gorgeous to look at and has a long bloom-time. Hummingbirds Like other dark red flowers, Fire Pink will attract hummingbirds to your garden. The more you plant, the more likely you are to see a hummingbird. Identification and Characteristics of Fire Pink Stalk Fire Pink will grow from 6" to 2' tall, and in general will be erect. It will branch at the base creating a somewhat shapely appearance. Stems are smooth to covered in fine, short hairs. At the top will be a 'cyme', where the stem splits into several smaller branches to produce the flower. Leaf The leaves at the base of the plant are grow about 6" long by 1" wide. Somewhat lance shaped and dark green in color with smooth margins. Leaves along the stalk are opposite (paired) and oblong to lanceolate in shape, and much smaller. Flower The flower of Fire Pink is small, about 1" long by 1.25" diameter. There are five large petals that are forked at the end. The bulk of the length of the flower is made up by it's calyx, which is the tube from the stalk to the petals. There is also a ring of erect petals near the center of the flower, which is one of those beautiful little features nature adds that can seem a bit mysterious. Root The root system of Fire Pink is that of a taproot with lots of finely haired fibrous roots. When I first transplanted Fire Pink from a pot to ground, I was amazed at how dense these roots were. Natural Habitat In the wild you could find Fire Pink growing in older mature forests in soils that drain well, meadows, or rocky ledges (such as Appalachia or the Ozarks). [1] Many sources note that populations are not always stable, and may increase or decrease with changing forest light conditions, or combinations of soil type + light. Fire Pink has been documented to naturally hybridize with other species of Silene, if they are grown in close proximity. [2] So, if you are to grow Fire Pink in your own landscaping, be prepared to sow seed each year to help maintain population levels unless you see that your plants live long and sustain themselves through self-seeding. Grow and Care for Fire Pink Sunlight Requirements Fire Pink prefers full sun, which is at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. But it can tolerate partial shade, which is 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. Soil Requirements Fire Pink is not picky in regards to types of soil! It will grow in sandy, rocky, or even clay soil. Just make sure the soil drains well. Moisture Requirements Fire Pink will do best in dry to medium-moist sites. It is drought tolerant and should not require supplemental watering. Fire Pink is not suitable for moist areas or in a rain garden. Fertilizer Fire Pink should not require any supplemental fertilizer. If you feel the need to do something, perhaps just toss a handful of compost in the bottom of the hole when transplanting out seedlings. How to Grow Fire Pink from Seed Growing Fire Pink from seed is not difficult as long as the seed gets access to sunlight, and is stratified or winter-sowed. But, researchers have found that germinating Fire Pink seed can be tricky, with germination rates varying wildly [4]. So, I will present you with the steps I took that were successful, with a healthy germination rate. I strongly recommend winter-sowing in December/January, as then you can be certain the plants will receive the necessary cold treatment. Furthermore winter sowing is mimicking mother nature better than stratifying in the refrigerator. Guide to sowing Fire Pink Seed Fill a container with moist potting soilPress seeds firmly into the soil. Seeds need exposure to sunlight to germinate.Sow heavily, as studies I reference below have found germination rates to be 20%-50%Place container in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shadeGermination will occur when the conditions are correct (temp/time) Additionally, you can direct sow the seed in disturbed soil. Firmly press seed into the soil in Autumn. Seed should germinate the following Spring. Do note that birds and rodents may forage the direct-sowed seed. As a general rule, Fire Pink will flower the second year after germination. How to save Fire Pink seed After flowering has stopped, seed pods will form. Pods will be green and transition to brown signaling that the seeds are ready to collect and store. Remove these pods when they turn brown, and keep them in a brown paper bag for about a week somewhere cool and dry. Then, shake the pods to remove the seed. Store the dried seed in a zip-lock bag in the fridge until ready to winter sow. This is very similar to how you collect Columbine Seed. Notes on Fire Pink Seed Production The limited visits by pollinators can make one wonder about the viability or quantity of seed produced by an individual plant. In my research I found studies that showed no difference in seed production on hand-pollinated flowers versus open pollinated flowers. [3] Wildlife and Pests associated with Fire Pink Pollinators Hummingbirds are the primary pollinators of Fire Pink. A five year study conducted in the 90's showed much greater reproduction in plants that were pollinated by hummingbirds. [4] Additionally, nocturnal moths have also been shown to be important pollinators for Fire Pink, Silene virginica. [5] By no means the best picture (video still), but this is a bee on a Fire Pink flower. Bees will visit Fire Pink flowers. Primarily this will be solitary or bumblebees. But overall the hummingbird appears to be the most important pollinator for the Fire Pink flower. Deer/Rabbits Fire Pink is browsed by deer, and likely rabbits as well. Furthermore, groundhogs have been observed [4] to consume the foliage. I recommend you use Liquid Fence to protect your plants from herbivore predation. Where you can buy Fire Pink Native Fire Pink is not sold in major garden centers, but is available in specialty native plant nurseries. There are lookalikes, but make sure you read the scientific name on the label to ensure you aren't getting a hybrid of a different color or species. Changing the color of a flower negatively effects pollinators ability to detect the flowers. Where to buy seeds We have ordered a variety of native flower seeds from Everwilde Farms, which you can order right from Amazon through our link on our RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE. (We may earn a small commission when you purchase through our links, at no cost to you. This helps support our website.) Uses of Fire Pink Garden Uses Fire Pink makes an excellent landscaping choice for a formal flower bed due to it's short size. It is not aggressive or invasive. But in addition to flower beds, Fire Pink can work in a woodland garden with dappled sunlight, or other tough to grow areas like a rocky out-cropping. Companion Plants The following plants would make good companion plants to Fire Pink, in terms of size and habitat. ColumbineSpotted Bee BalmAromatic AsterBlack Eyed SusanButterfly Weed Edible/Medicinal Fire Pink is not edible. Also, there are no known medicinal uses of Fire Pink. Furthermore, I could not find any reference to any tribe having any use for this plant. [6]