Fire Pink (Silene virginica), is native to eastern North America with the exception of the farthest northeastern states of, New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The flower of the Fire Pink isn’t large. It is from 1 to 1.5 inches in size. It’s brilliant crimson color though, makes its blooms quite eye catching.

It’s a short lived perennial that shows off its blooms from April into August.

The Fire Pink is a member of the Carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Members of that family are called pinks because of their look, giving the impression that the ends of the petals are cut with pinking shears.

I’ve found Fire Pink on many occasions, as I hike in parks close by, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. That’s the location of these photographs, as well as in a garden just out my cabin’s back door. That’s where I found some of these beauties blooming just yesterday. What a joy native plants are!

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