by Matt Gibson
Garden catchfly blossom are grown as a perennial in USDA zones 5 - 8 . But they can not go severe heat or a cold wintertime , so they are more commonly grown as an annual in colder climate areas . The garden catchfly is a bloom native to Europe , and it is also have it off as Sweet William catchfly , None - So - Pretty , and Campion , but its scientific name is silene armeria . Blooming from later bound to former summertime in crimson , white-hot , pink and rose , the garden catchfly stands 12 to 18 inches tall and between six and nine inch wide when to the full grown . It is not to be confused withSweet William dianthus , which is a different flower also aboriginal to southern Europe .
Clusters of bright , colorful half - inch bloom with rounded petals sit around atop upright stem that are decorate with ellipse - shape leaves tinged from atomic number 47 to green . The garden lychnis get its name from the white , muggy sap that oozes from its stems and tends to snare an array of small insect . Because of this trait , garden catchfly is often mistake for a carnivorous plant . The garden lychnis does not ingest its quarry after pin down it , though , so it ’s not carnivorous . It ’s just an unforgiving foe of small insects .
Popular due to its down in the mouth maintenance caution needs and hardiness when it comes to tolerate drought , the garden catchfly is a great paroxysm for beds , borders , meadows , container , rock and roll gardens , bungalow gardens , and any other place that could apply a self - spread carpet of flowery mounds of semblance and charm . The garden catchfly ’s popularity is also due to its power to flourish in places that other anthesis industrial plant can not . rough terrain and poor quality grime are not the secure habitat for most flowers , but the garden silene thrives in sphere like these and will deliver great results no matter what the condition are like .
Garden campion is also a favorite of many different kinds ofwildlife , especially hiss and butterflies . Its plentifully available nectar offers wildlife a food for thought source , which is a joy to both the hummingbird and the butterflies , while birds mostly snack on the seeds that the silene flowers create .
Varieties of Garden Catchfly
The genus Silene admit more than 700 different species of flowering plants . There is sure no agency we ’d have the space to give details on each different cultivar in this article , so we ’ve pluck out a few standouts to foreground here .
German catchfly ( L. viscaria):This varietal is even more drought kind than most other species of catchfly . It has rosy pink - colored bloom and is perfect for rock gardens .
Rose campion ( L. coronaria):This case is available in purple , magenta , clean , and even bicolor option . The Abbotsford Rose variety is grandiloquent than most catchfly metal money , pullulate up to two metrical foot in acme and boasting magenta to royal plumage . The Alba mintage is another favorite rose silene , known for its lovelywhite flowers .
Maltese Cross ( L. chalcedonica):The Maltese Cross garden lychnis produces blossom petal in the shape of a cross in hue of deep flushed , grow , and white . democratic specie of the Maltese cross cultivar let in Alba in white and Flore Plena , which produce beautiful scarlet red double blooms .
Growing Conditions for Garden Catchfly
Garden Catchfly enjoys full sunshine to partial shade . In lovesome climates , the fond spectre becomes crucial , as the plant does not prosper in uttermost heat . Catchfly does n’t need a lot of piss to live and actually prefers slightly damp to dry out well - draining sand or crushed rock - rich ground . For garden catchfly to flourish , your soil pH need to be between six and eight .
How To Plant Garden Catchfly
Start seed indoors , in flats with a high-pitched - quality potting soil , at a minimum of eight week before the last expected frost . Allow 15 to 25 days for the seedling to burgeon forth up before transpose them into your garden bed or the with child container that will be their homes . In restrained clime areas , you may sow in garden catchfly directly three hebdomad prior to the last frost .
Care for Garden Catchfly Plants
fecundate once or twice a season with a world-wide aim fertilizer engineer for flower plants . supply even wet as your industrial plant start to age . Once it ’s established , water garden silene only in cases of stretch drought or during periods of uttermost heat . Mulch around the infrastructure of the plants to keep weeds from impinge . Stake as demand if the flowers start to sag or fall .
Deadhead the blooms before they start to shape seeds , unless you need them to spread out their district , or you may opt to collect the seed for next year ’s enjoyment . If you want to collect the seeds for next class , harvest them just after they form , and tolerate them to dry out . Once the semen have fully dried , place them in a sealed glass jolt and judge them so you do n’t forget what they are . If leave behind to source , garden catchfly will spread itself out as far as it is set aside , bringing with it a lush rug of minor but colorful blooms that can lend a thudding garden to life .
Garden Pests and Diseases of Garden
Catchfly
Garden silene is gratis from pest concerns — aside from the concern of the unlucky few who get trapped in its sticky sap , that is . Unfortunately , the bloom is susceptible to some fungal disease , especially in soggy , misfortunate - draining soil or improper grow stipulation . Keep an eye out forrust , etymon rot , and leaf spotduring and after heavy rains .
Videos About Garden Catchfly
check this video for growing tips for the ‘ none so pretty ’ variety of the garden silene :
For a more in - depth video tutorial on growing garden campion at household , click here :
Want to Learn More About Garden Catchfly Flowers?
Gardener ’s connection covers How to acquire and give care for Catchfly Flowers
Gardenia cover up How to uprise campion Armeria : Garden Catchfly
Gardening Know How extend How to Grow Catchfly plant
HGTV covers Growing silene
Weekend Gardener covers Growing Catchfly
