Carrie: Since Tiffy hasn't come along I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth.

In my first year, (2006) and again last year I sowed something from valueseeds called "catchfly ruby flax", listed as an annual. I never really knew it's bot. name. Researching it I found that a lot of flowers have the common name catchfly, including some annuals and biennials. Hence, the problem with common names. Maybe yours is something perennial. Mine bloomed early then fried in the real heat of summer. Since you're in a hot climate and I assume it's still doing well, yours must be a perennial or biennial something or other.

Here are mine last year (taller pink flowers), between the pink zinnias.

July 4
{{gwi:428361}}

Aug 3, frying
{{gwi:428362}}

Sept 2, toast
{{gwi:309586}}

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: catchfly

This is what I had, still listed in valueseeds archive.

Here is a link that might be useful: catchfly

thanks, karen - you are so right - very confusing - here is what the green "mound" looks like now and has looked since spring:

{{gwi:244841}}

Carrie

karen - I sowed that "ruby flax catchyfly" - your picture of the flower and stems (and how the heat affects it) is very familiar. I swore I would never do them again - they were flimsy, couldn't take the heat and the flowers were so small...

The above picture is so much different - yet called "catchfly" - It almost looks more similar to coreopsis - but of course it isn't - because I sowed them straight from the packet "Silene Catchfly Compacta" - I will definitely post pictures if I get flowers next spring - which I bet I will. I just hope it is a perennial - it has really withstood our ridiculous heatwaves and no rain.

Carrie -

Take a look at this - Silene uniflora 'Compacta' - and see what you think. It might be what you have; if so, it's perennial.

PV

pvick - that is a great link and my foliage looks very similar to the uniflora compacta ... now to find compacta catchfly... if there is such a plant.

Also, I see that this is a low growing plant and possibly the flowers are not so tall, so I am going to move them to the front.

Thanks again

Carrie

Hi Carrie,
It's a biennual or short-lived perennial, so it will bloom either next year or the following.

Here is a link that might be useful: Silene compacta (Catchfly)

susanc - THANKS so much for that link. It was so sweet of you to find that for me. I love the flowers and hopefully mine will look like the picture when they finally bloom next summer.

I can't wait!

Carrie

Looks like a nice one Carrie. Sure is a gem in the link susanc gave you. Got seeds yet?? LOL!! I don't have that one.

I was away for the weekend but it looks like you were well taken care of. Nice bunch here, eh? Great company we keep! :O)

seeds? Ha - I having been looking at foliage for five months and now that I've read the link - won't be getting flowers until next summer. Oh well, hope it's worth the wait!

Carrie (tiff - hope you had a great weekend)