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Brundage, Stephanie

Silene caroliniana

Silene caroliniana Walter

Sticky Catchfly, Wild Pink

Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SICA6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Low in habit, a single wild pink plant can produce 50-100 showy, rose-pink, tubular flowers. These dense clusters of flowers are just even with the tips of the narrow, basal leaves. The plant is slender-stemmed and forms a 3-8 in. compact mound.

Subspecies pensylvanica occupies the eastern part of the range, subspecies wherryi the western, and subspecies caroliniana the southeastern.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 8 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Rarely white.

Distribution

USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , KY , MA , MD , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV
Native Distribution: MA to OH, s. to SC & n. AL
Native Habitat: Dry, open, gravelly woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Well-drained, rocky soil.
Conditions Comments: Ssp. pensylvanica in the eastern part of the range; ssp. wherryi in the west.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or cuttings.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City - Jefferson City, TN

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Silene caroliniana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Silene caroliniana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Silene caroliniana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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