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Cressler, Alan

Silene regia

Silene regia Sims

Royal Catchfly

Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SIRE2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Royal catchfly is a 2-5 ft., erect perennial with bright-red, tubular flowers. The flowers flare into five, slightly toothed, slender petals and are up to 2 in. across. The stems are smooth, but the broad, sometimes clasping leaves, are pubescent.

The red flowers attract hummingbirds.

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MO , OH , OK , TN
Native Distribution: OH to e. MO, s. to GA & LA
Native Habitat: Rocky prairies; open woods; rocky glades

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1996 VOL. 13, NO.2 - Annual Wildflower Days Festival, Wildflower Center Hotline, The Visitor Experien...
Wildflower Newsletter 1996 VOL. 13, NO.4 - The Worth of a Native Plant, Pros and Cons of Using Rare Native Plants, Educatio...

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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