Gardening Flowers Perennials Silene By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 23, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Clint Farlinger. Silene Overview Description Native to the North American grasslands, silene, is prized for its brilliant early summer blossoms. Boasting flowers in shades of pink, white, red, and magenta, silene often grows as an annual plant in meadow and prairie settings but some varieties have strong perennial tendancies and come back in the same spot year-after-year. The silene that grows as annuals self-seed readily and reliably pop up every spring. Genus Name Silene Common Name Silene Plant Type Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 6 to 6 inches Width 6 to 24 inches Flower Color Blue, Pink, Red, White Season Features Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Division, Seed Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant, Groundcover A Note About the Name Silene has the common name catchfly. The name catchfly refers to the plant's sticky leaves and stems. It is said that the leaves and stems are so sticky they could catch a fly; however, silene does not actually catch or attract flies. It is just the lucky recipient of a memorable common name. Into the Garden Silene is a great plant for your landscape. Its natural ability to withstand dry conditions and preference for sun make it a good fit for rock gardens, curbside planting areas, and full-sun garden beds. Count on silene's foliage to debut in early spring and persist through late summer, but remember that a few varieties go dormant in the heat of summer. Bold flower stalks unfurl their blooms in early summer, standing tall for several weeks. A favorite stopping place for hummingbirds and butterflies, silene is a great addition to pollinator gardens or container plantings. Pair it with bee balm, cosmos, alyssum, aster, and calendula for a color-drenched flower show from early summer through fall. Add silene to a container garden and enjoy its medium green, sometimes fuzzy, foliage for months after the plant blooms. Silene Care Must-Knows Silene grows best in full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. In Zones 7 and above, plant it where it will receive afternoon shade. Well-drained soil is essential. Silene suffers and dies out in wet locations. It's easy and economical to start silene from seed planted in the garden in spring or from transplants purchased at a garden center. After silene blooms in summer, allow the flower stalks to stand to encourage the plant to self-seed. Plan to replace perennial silene in the landscape every few years—perennial cultivars have a tendency to decrease flower production as they age. What is well-drained soil? Find out here. More Varieties of Silene Royal Catchfly Clint Farlinger Silene regia has 2-inch-wide fiery scarlet flowers in summer on stems that may reach 4 feet tall. The foliage is downy, covered with fine hairs. Excellent in native plant gardens in Zones 4–7. 'Clifford Moore' Catchfly This variety of Silene offers pink flowers in early summer over yellow-edged leaves. Zones 5–8 Clifford Moore catchfly (Silene 'Clifford Moore') offers pink flowers in early summer over yellow-edged leaves. Zones 5–8 Clifford Moore catchfly (Silene 'Clifford Moore') offers pink flowers in early summer over yellow-edged leaves. Zones 5–8 Plant Silene With: Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit