Fire Pink (Silene virginica) is in the pink family family (Caryophyllaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,736 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Fire Pink: observations by month (U.S.)
About Fire Pink
Silene virginica, the fire pink, is a wildflower in the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. It is known for its distinct brilliant red flowers. Each flower is approximately five centimeters in diameter and composed of five notched, brilliant red petals which extend into a long tube. It is a small (20-80 cm tall), short-lived perennial (2-3 years), with lance shaped leaves. Its stems, and the bases of the flowers, are covered in short sticky hairs. Fire pink begins...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Fire Pink by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 1,527 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 945 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 423 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 410 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 404 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arkansas | 383 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 372 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 326 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 218 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 212 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 162 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 103 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 85 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Mississippi | 75 | April | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 43 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 40 | May | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (pink family)
Deptford pink
White Campion
Common Soapwort
Common Chickweed
Star Chickweed
Bladder Campion
Cardinal Catchfly
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fire Pink?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Fire Pink most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky.