Overview
Silene gallica is an erect, sticky-hairy annual 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) tall, native to the Mediterranean region and now naturalized across temperate grasslands, fields, and roadsides worldwide. The stems and oblong, opposite leaves are clothed in glandular hairs that make the plant tacky to the touch and trap small insects, the trait behind the name catchfly. Small flowers about 0.4 inch (8-12 mm) wide open in a one-sided raceme along the upper stem from late spring into summer; the five notched petals are white to pale pink, and in one common form each petal carries a crimson spot. Behind each flower sits an inflated, hairy calyx with ten green veins that persists around the ripening capsule. The plant flowers and sets abundant seed within a single season, then dies, relying on the seed bank to return. It grows quickly on poor, disturbed ground but is weakly competitive and short-lived, and it behaves as a weed in some regions. Bloom is brief on any one plant though spread across the population.
Native Range
Native to the Mediterranean basin and western Europe, and widely naturalized across North and South America, southern Africa, and Australia on disturbed soils, fields, pastures, and roadsides.Suggested Uses
Grown occasionally in wildflower mixes, meadow plantings, and naturalistic dry borders. Used to fill bare, lean ground quickly, though it seldom persists as a planned feature. Its weedy spread and short life restrict its use in tidy, permanent beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'6"
Width/Spread4" - 10"
Bloom Information
Flowers open from late spring into summer, generally May through August. The small white to pink flowers open a few at a time along a one-sided raceme, each lasting a short while. Small bees and flies visit, though much seed sets through self-pollination.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White to pinkFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun and dry, well-drained soil of low fertility suit this annual, which grows readily on sand, gravel, and disturbed ground. It tolerates a soil pH from about 6.0 to 7.5 and needs little water once seedlings establish. Rich soil and shade produce lank growth and fewer flowers. The plant completes its life in one season and returns only from self-sown seed, which can persist in the soil for years. Aphids and powdery mildew occasionally affect crowded stands. Self-seeding can spread it beyond where it was first sown.Pruning
Shearing spent stems before the capsules ripen reduces self-sowing. Whole plants are pulled once they yellow and set seed at season end. No structural pruning applies.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow