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Catchfly

Silene

Also called Campion, Campions, Campion, Catchfly, Catchflies, Catchflies And Campions

Catchfly
Photo: User:Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0

Silene is a large genus of about 500 to 900 species of flowering plants, known as campions and catchflies, mostly native to the northern hemisphere. Many are hardy perennials grown for their showy flowers, and care varies widely between species.

Family
Caryophyllaceae (Pink & carnation family)
Light
Full sun
Water
Water moderately and let the soil dry out between waterings; avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Well-drained soil, sandy or gritty loam.
Temperature
Most hardy species tolerate cold winters; avoid prolonged heat and humidity.
How easy
Easy

About

Silene is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Containing between 500 and 900 species, it is the largest genus in the family. Common names include campion and catchfly. Many Silene species are widely distributed, particularly in the northern hemisphere.

Where it grows

Lychnis is also the common name of Hadena bicruris, a species of noctuid moth. The larva of this moth feeds on Silene (formerly Lychnis) species, as do some other Lepidoptera including cabbage moths (recorded on Silene chalcedonica), grey chi and case-bearers of the genus Coleophora including C. albella (feeds exclusively on Silene flos-cuculi).

Uses

Many species of Silene are in cultivation for perennial gardens. Some have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, including Silene flos-jovis and Silene schafta.

Other Silene plants

Moss campion · Pink Family · Silene banksia · Maltese-cross · Silene cognata · Weed silene · Crown-pink · Forked Catchfly · Ragged Robin · Silene flos-jovis · Common catchfly · Bladder campion

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Silene by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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