Questions about silene..

15 years ago

Is silene the same as catchfly and is it a lychnis variety? I seem to have a bunch of containers of seed from trade that are labeled various "combo's" of these names, and the sprouts look very similar.

I have not grow it before but I remember seeing some pics from you all where it was included and looked like a long blooming, sort of petite (12"?)nice plant. Do you think it will work well along the sides of paths that go through the beds? I planted one container this way today but don't want to do the others in the same fashion till I get some expert advise. Also, does it bloom first year, come back, reseed? Is it always deep hot pink in color?

Thanks for your help.

Nancy

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Comments (4)

northerner_on
15 years ago
Nancy, this is exactly the reason we should start using botanical names. Silene and catchfly are used interchangeably in Canada, but in some parts of the US, I have seen Campion referred to as catchfly. What I have grown is Silene armeria (also called Not-so-pretty) which is an annual which re-seeds profusely, grows about 12 inches tall with bright pink blooms. It is a pretty little plant and once planted, it will keep popping up here and there. Perhaps this is what you have. It does bloom its first year, and will re-seed. You may have to keep it under control in following years. There are several varieties of Silene, some of which are perennial.
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tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
A lot of folks mix the Silene name with the Lynchnis name. Confusing for me too since I grow a lot of Lynchnis and sometimes wonder what people are talking about.

The one you describe sounds like Lynchnis Viscaria Splendens Fever - German Catchtfly. About 15" tall when in flower, flowers are a somewhat hot pink colour, stem of the flower has sticky areas, foliage looks like a tuff of grass but blades of the leaves are a bit larger. If this is the one, it will bloom next year attracting Hummingbird Moths to your gardens. It is perfect for bordering gardens.

As with all Lynchnis, it will reseed, but I find this easy to control.
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carrie630
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Found this on the net - I don't know how to post a link, so I copied and pasted this: No wonder we are all so confused about "silene"... Carrie

Genus: Silene
Silene antirrhina L.*+
sleepy catchfly, sleepy silene
Silene antirrhina L. f. apetala Farw.
Silene antirrhina L. f. bicolor Farw.
Silene antirrhina L. f. deaneana Fernald
Silene antirrhina L. var. confinis Fernald
Silene antirrhina L. var. depauperata Rydb.
Silene antirrhina L. var. divaricata B.L.Rob.
Silene antirrhina L. var. laevigata Engelm. & A.Gray
Silene antirrhina L. var. subglaber Engelm. & A.Gray
Silene antirrhina L. var. vaccarifolia Rydb.
Silene armeria L.*+
sweet-William catchfly, sweet-William silene
Silene csereii Baumg.*+
Balkan catchfly, glaucous campion
Silene dichotoma Ehrh.+
dichotoma silene, forked catchfly
Silene dioica (L.) Clairv.
morning campion, red catchfly, red campion, red cockle
Lychnis dioica L.
Silene gallica L.
common catchfly, French catchfly
Silene anglica L.
Silene latifolia Poir.
bladder campion, white campion, white cockle
Silene latifolia Poir. subsp. alba*+
bladder campion, white campion, white cockle
Lychnis alba Mill.
Lychnis pratensis Rafn
Lychnis vespertina Sibth.
Lychnis X loveae B.Boivin X
Melandrium album (Mill.) Garcke
Silene alba (Mill.) E.H.L.Krause
Silene pratensis (Rafn) Godr. & Gren.
Silene pratensis (Rafn) Godr. & Gren. subsp. pratensis
Silene nivea (Nutt.) Muhl. ex Otth+
evening campion, snowy campion, white campion
Cucubalus niveus Nutt.
Silene noctiflora L.*+
night-flowering catchfly, sticky cockle
Melandrium noctiflorum (L.) Fr.
Silene regia Sims
wild pink, royal catchfly
Silene stellata (L.) W.T.Aiton
starry campion, widow's-frill
Silene stellata (L.) W.T.Aiton var. scabrella (Nieuwl.) E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.*+
starry campion, widow's-frill
Evactoma stellata (L.) Raf. var. scabrella Nieuwl.
Lychnis stellata L. var. scabrella (Nieuwl.) E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.
Silene scabrella (Nieuwl.) G.N.Jones
Silene virginica L.*+
fire pink, scarlet catchfly
Silene virginica L. var. virginica
Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke*+
bladder-campion, maiden's-tears
Oberna commutata (Guss.) Ikonn.
Silene cucubalus Wibel
Silene inflata (Salisb.) Sm.
Silene latifolia (Mill.) Britten & Rendle
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northforker
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Tiffy and Carrie. No wonder there is confusion with all those kinds!

I think I have two kinds, looked a bit closer today. One's seedling looks a lot like alyssum, the other has more of a lynchis look - - tiny still but definate fuzz on the leaves. Neither looks grassy!Rounded leaves on both.

Hmmm, guess It'll be a mystery till they flower.

Thanks for your help!
Nancy
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