Wild Pink Flowers on the Hillsides

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Wild Pink would make a nice addition to any garden. It’s low to the ground and the flowers are a delightful light pink color.

Who says pink isn’t a natural color?

Wild Pink, Silene caroliniana, looks similar to a common garden plant called moss phlox. Moss phlox, Phlox subulata, is popular in gardens and you’ll see it planted around houses as it’s a popular landscaping plant that flowers in neon-bright colors.

By the way during the month of May you can see a great display of a tall Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata, at Shenk’s Ferry.

Wild pink flowers range in color from the lightest pink, almost white, to a dark pink. Flowering in the middle of May most of the flowers are light pink in color.

These wild pink flowers are such a light pink they're nearly white.
These wild pink flowers are such a light pink they’re nearly white.
Wild pink flowers in a dark shade of pink.
Wild pink flowers in a dark shade of pink.

The whole plant will get only a few inches tall. The photo above shows the flower stalk reaching about 5 inches high, a little taller than the leaves.

Flowers have five long petals with notches at the end that become more apparent as the bloom ages.
Flowers have five long petals with notches at the end that become more apparent as the bloom ages.

The base of each petal has a sort of flare that can be seen in a closeup image of wild pink blossoms (below). Surrounding the five stamens with their grayish-white anthers in the center of the flower are what appear to be ten very short petals, which are these “flares” at the bases of the five petals. It makes for a unique look for the center of the flower.

Close-up photo of wild pink flowers.
Close-up photo of wild pink flowers.

Lance-shaped leaves are narrow and pointed occurring opposite one another on the flowering stem. Leaves at the base of the plant are longer and wider than those on the flowering stalk. All the leaves and stems are softly fuzzy with short hairs.

The flowering stalk rises up a few inches from the ground and splits off into three or so smaller stems which split into a couple of shorter stems with flowers.

As the wild pink plants mature the flowering stem that once was upright will lay down so the flowers are practically lying on the ground.
As the wild pink plants mature the flowering stem that once was upright will lay down so the flowers are practically lying on the ground.
Wild pink growing on a hillside in central PA.
Wild pink growing on a hillside in central PA.

Wild pink photographed here were growing on the east-facing slope of a hill in Perry County, Pennsylvania next to a two-lane country road.

Wild pink may be considered a blooming roadside weed.
Wild pink may be considered a blooming roadside weed.

The Wild Pink is a flowering plant native to the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern states and can be found mainly in dry, rocky areas, especially in the mountains. It was seen here blooming in the middle of May in 2014. In most years start looking for it in the beginning of May. Photos taken 18 and 24 May 2014 at Little Buffalo State Park.

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