When does fire pink bloom?

Fire pink typically flowers from May through July, producing clusters of bright red, five-petaled blooms on slender stems.

What pollinators does fire pink attract?

The tubular red flowers of fire pink are especially attractive to ruby-throated hummingbirds, along with various butterflies and bees that visit for nectar.

What growing conditions does fire pink need?

Fire pink prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil with medium moisture, often growing naturally on rocky slopes, ledges, and open woodland edges.

Is fire pink easy to grow in a home garden?

Fire pink adapts well to rock gardens and woodland borders as long as it gets good drainage and does not sit in constantly wet soil.

Is Fire-pink HOA-friendly?

Fire-pink is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Fire-pink

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Silene virginica

Last reviewed: September 2026

Fire pink is a woodland forb with brilliant red star-shaped flowers that bloom from May through July, thriving on rocky slopes and open forest edges in full sun to part shade.

Toxicity unknown

Fire-pink (Silene virginica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, DE, GA and 19 more states

Pollinators

hummingbirds, butterflies, bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Piedmont Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Erie Drift Plain Northern Forests Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain

Fire-pink produces brilliant scarlet star-shaped flowers on slender stems from late spring through summer. This compact native wildflower forms neat clumps with narrow green leaves and thrives in sunny, well-drained locations.

Growing Fire-pink

Grow Fire-pink in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Fire-pink is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The bright red tubular flowers are specifically adapted to attract hummingbirds, while also providing nectar for butterflies and native bees.

Common questions

When does fire pink bloom?: Fire pink typically flowers from May through July, producing clusters of bright red, five-petaled blooms on slender stems.
What pollinators does fire pink attract?: The tubular red flowers of fire pink are especially attractive to ruby-throated hummingbirds, along with various butterflies and bees that visit for nectar.
What growing conditions does fire pink need?: Fire pink prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil with medium moisture, often growing naturally on rocky slopes, ledges, and open woodland edges.
Is fire pink easy to grow in a home garden?: Fire pink adapts well to rock gardens and woodland borders as long as it gets good drainage and does not sit in constantly wet soil.
Is Fire-pink HOA-friendly?: Fire-pink is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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