Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Jackson Valentine Fire Pink: Native Red Stars at the Bed's Edge
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Jackson Valentine fire pink is a selection of our native fire pink, Silene virginica, with brilliant true-red, star-shaped flowers about 1½ inches across. Each has five narrow petals notched at the tips, scattered in loose clusters over a compact clump 10 to 14 inches tall. It is much showier than the wild plant, and hummingbirds find it reliably.
Wild fire pink has a reputation for being short-lived. This selection was chosen for better vigor, so it sticks around.
Jackson Valentine at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Silene virginica 'Jackson Valentine' |
| Flowers | Brilliant red stars about 1½ inches across |
| Foliage | Narrow green leaves in a low basal rosette |
| Size | 10 to 14 inches tall, 6 to 10 inches wide |
| Bloom | Late May, peaking early June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4-8 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators and hummingbirds; moderately deer resistant |
Red stars along the lavender edge
Fire pink is happy in exactly the kind of lean, quick-draining ground lavender prefers, including sandy, gravelly and rocky spots where many perennials struggle. Its small size makes it an edging plant: a ribbon of red along the sunny front of a lavender bed, or tucked between stones on a slope. It blooms just ahead of the lavender, so the bed goes from red to purple as late spring turns to summer, and the hummingbirds show up early.
Use the Companion Plant Planner to space a front-row planting without crowding the lavender mounds.
Planting and care
- Soil: dry to medium, well drained. It tolerates drought, clay and shallow soil, but not wet feet.
- Heat: light afternoon shade helps in hot summers.
- Mulch: keep it thin or skip it around the basal rosette; heavy mulch invites crown rot.
- After bloom: remove spent stems for tidiness. It does not rebloom heavily.
- Seedlings: let a few flowers go to seed if you would like new plants to appear nearby.
Native, rock and hummingbird gardens
Beyond the lavender bed, Jackson Valentine is a natural for native plantings, rock gardens and woodland edges with dappled light. Its sticky stems and starry flowers are a classic sight in eastern woodlands, and the garden selection brings that look into a tidier package.
The 72-cell plug tray
Jackson Valentine is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a practical way to plant a long edging row or a native planting. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is fire pink related to garden pinks?
Both belong to the same plant family, but fire pink is a different genus and a North American native.
Why do fire pinks disappear?
Usually wet or heavy soil. Give it sharp drainage and it lasts much longer, and this selection was picked for staying power.
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