Silene regia Royal Catchfly

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Silene regia visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website. Ohio Department of Natural Resources list classifies Royal Catchfly as threatened
In the center of the picture a bright red flower with five petals.
Silene regia showing off!
A flower tightly closed with a red tip that makes it look like a bird's face.
Royal Catchfly ready to bloom


Cultivation Information Royal Catchfly

Height - 2-4 feet Flower Color - Red Blooms - July - August Sun - Full SunHardy Zone - 4 - 9 Soil - Well drained

Support - This beauty does best if planted near other native plants that provide support and structure The white unusual design and texture of Wild Quinine flowers (Parthenium integrifolium) make a stunning combination
Family – Caryophyllaceae
A dozen or so Royal Catchfly plants that are all the same height and all have several red flowers.
Royal Catchfly By Jim Wohl

Wildlife Significance Royal Catchfly

Nectar Source - Butterflies (Black Swallowtails) - hummingbirds Major Pollinator - Hummingbirds Birds - Hummingbirds absolutely love this plant! In an attempt to keep hummingbird "arguments" to a minimum, it is best to have several Royal Catchfly plants in your yard, preferably in different locations.
For more details on this plant visit the Illinois Wildflower website.
Propagation Notes Royal Catchfly
Seed Stratification - 60 days cold moist storage
Germination - High rate of success, seeds do best when only covered with vermiculite and not soil.
Location - Young plants require a dry, sunny location - An overly shady moist area creates poor quality plants Silene regia stems are very sticky making them difficult to move as the season progresses
One young Silene regia plant with a red flower.
Silene regia stems are very sticky
Seed Provenance Silene regia
Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN 2013 - Nodding Onion Gardens 2014 - present