1. Indian Pink/Red Catchfly – Silene laciniata subsp. major
(sy-LEE-nee la-sin-ee-AY-tuh)
Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Native to: Southwestern coast from central CA to Baja; common on grassy or brushy slopes and
shaded areas below 5000' in coastal strand and sea bluffs, coastal sage scrub, chaparral and oak
woodland. Areas usual dry and shaded.
herbaceous perennial
mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Semi-erect, weak-stemmed, herbaceous perennial forming a low mound. The leaves are opposite,
hairy or glandular, linear-lanceolate and 2" to 4" long. Plant may die back in Fall.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms May-Aug. in our area. Flowers held on stems above the foliage. Flowers
are red, scarlet or pink and look somewhat like simple carnation blooms. Flowers may be single or
in small clusters. Not wildly showy, but the flowers are very interesting, ‘old-fashioned’ looking.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Makes a nice addition to a shady dry mixed bed with other native prerennials
and annual wildflowers. Nice mixed with native grasses, particularly under trees like oaks.
also be nice in a rock garden, against a wall (it likes to ‘lean’) or in a pot.
Would
Sensible substitute for: Non-native shade-tolerant perennials.
Attracts: Excellent nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies. Small animals eat the foliage.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Dappled sun to part shade
Any well-drained local soil including very sandy soils.
Zone 1-2 to 2-3; does well with occasional water, but too much water causes it to
become leggy.
None; likes a lean soil
Management:
Little required. Will reseed regularly in suitable soils.
Propagation: from seed:
easy in pots of prepared beds, in Fall/Winter
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 3, 12
by cuttings: probably
11/28/07
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