Silene Forged By Fire™

Silene Forged By Fire™: Scarlet Stars That Hummingbirds Hunt Down

'Forged By Fire' sounds like a blacksmith reality show and looks like one too. Bright red stars with notched tips, and the hummingbirds are lining up like it's a tasting menu. HOT OFF THE ANVIL.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Silene virginica 'Sil005'
• Common Name: Fire Pink, Catchfly
• Series: Bloomin' Easy® (cultivar 'Sil005')
• Height: 38–45 cm (15–18 in)
• Spread: 30 cm (12 in)
• Flowers: Bright red, star-shaped flowers about 2.5 cm (1 in) across, with notched petal tips
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Long, narrow, deep green leaves in a compact, upright clump
• Features: Heat tolerant
• Plant Patent: USPP 36,247

Where to Plant: Plant it at the front of a sunny or lightly shaded border, in a rock garden, along a path or in a container. It's ideal for a hummingbird garden, where its red flowers do a lot of work in a small footprint. Give it well-drained soil.

Companion Plants: Baptisia Decadence® 'Blueberry Sundae' grows to 90 cm with blue flowers in June and July, a cool backdrop for the bright red fire pink. Aubrieta 'Rock On Blue' spills blue flowers from April to June at the front. Elymus virginicus adds a native grass at 90 to 125 cm, with flowering heads from June to August. All three share full sun to partial sun.

Plant Care: Good drainage is the key. Plant in average to lean, well-drained soil. It does well with morning sun and some afternoon shade, and it resents wet feet, especially in winter. Heavy clay should be loosened or the plant set on a slight rise. Water regularly through the first season, then only in dry spells. Deadhead spent flowers to keep it tidy and encourage more blooms. Fire pink is naturally a short-lived perennial, so don't bury the crown in heavy mulch. Leave the clump in place over winter and tidy the old foliage in spring.

History: Forged By Fire™ ('Sil005') was found in 2022 by Henricus Holtmaat of Nova Perenne in the Netherlands, as a natural sport of the fire pink 'Jackson Valentine' in tissue culture, and was patented in 2024. Fire pink, Silene virginica, grows on rocky slopes and in open woods of eastern North America.

Final Thoughts: Heat doesn't bother it and the deer leave it alone. Put it where you can watch the hummingbird traffic. FORGE AHEAD.