Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)
Silene regia is a stunning native species of flowering plant of the Caryophyllaceae family known more by the common name Royal Catchfly.
The flowers are pollinated by the ruby-throated hummingbird and is a magnet for Black Swallowtails.
This plant is “catchy" because small insects can get captured by a sticky substance on its leaves and stems. While this plant is definitely in the carnivorous family, it doesn’t benefit from them, but it does have the ability to break down the bodies, so they don’t rot on the plant, while offering its harvest to hummingbirds and other species who feed on both nectar and insects for protein.
This plant happily catches and kills flies but also has been seen catching invasive Japanese Beetles.
This plant is a stunning native to the tallgrass prairie of the American Midwest. It occurs in grasslands and woodlands alike. It has most often been found on roadsides and outcrops, and in pastures. It is loves being in open, sunny spots.
This species is under threat due to the loss of habitat to agricultural use. Its native prairie habitat has been reduced so that now the plant mainly grows on roadsides and rights-of-way. It is also threatened by fire suppression, which eliminates the normal fire regime that keeps the habitat open and sunny. Larger and woody vegetation moves into the habitat when fire is reduced, and the Silene cannot compete.
(We recommend prescribed burns where possible every 5-7 years to not only compete with invasive or fast growing weeds, but to rejuvenate plants just like this one)
The scientific name for the family of plants that Royal Catchfly (Silene regia), Starry Campion (Silene stellata), and Fire Pink (Silene virginica) hail from, is a derivative of the name Silenus, the Greek god who presided over the other daimons and is associated with musical creativity, prophetic ecstasy, drunken joy, revelatory dancing and celebratory gestures; he was a close companion and tutor to the god of wine, thereby becoming the Star Companion (Starry Campion) of Dionysus. When intoxicated, Silenus was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy. King Midas was eager to learn from Silenus and caught him by lacing the wine fountain from which Silenus often drank. Silenus then became lost, wandering the city of Phrygia, eventually passing out and was rescued by peasants and taken to Midas, who treated him kindly. In return for Midas's hospitality Silenus told him numerous imaginative tales and the king, deeply enchanted by Silenus's fictions, entertained him lavishly for five days and nights. Dionysus offered Midas a reward for the return of his companion, and Midas chose the famous power of turning everything he touched into gold, entrapping him permanently, for having tricked his friend.
Plant Details:
USDA Zones: 4-9
Germination Needs: 60 Day Cold Stratification
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full to Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry
Plant Spacing: 1-2 feet
Height: 4 feet
Bloom Time: July, August
Bloom Color: Red
Advantages:
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perchs.
Excellent in home landscaping!
Native to: Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
.
.
Packet quantities:
We pride ourselves on ethical, hands on, ecological management, using no mechanical or chemical methods whatsoever.
All of our native seed is hand reared, hand picked, and hand packed from native prairies under our exclusive management, never breaking chain of custody from the field until it is sent to you. Each packet is hand prepared for shipment by us, directly.
Small seed species will contain greater than 20-25 seed
Large seed species will contain greater than 10-15 seed
It is our mission to spread the wealth of native plant and pollinator ecological sustainability, and educate back yard gardeners as well as corporate and government entities in how to germinate, grow, and benefit from native synergies.
Thank you for your support, it is because of you, that we can grow together to do, what we do.🐛🦋🐝🐞🌾🌱🌼🧡
Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)
Silene regia is a stunning native species of flowering plant of the Caryophyllaceae family known more by the common name Royal Catchfly.
The flowers are pollinated by the ruby-throated hummingbird and is a magnet for Black Swallowtails.
This plant is “catchy" because small insects can get captured by a sticky substance on its leaves and stems. While this plant is definitely in the carnivorous family, it doesn’t benefit from them, but it does have the ability to break down the bodies, so they don’t rot on the plant, while offering its harvest to hummingbirds and other species who feed on both nectar and insects for protein.
This plant happily catches and kills flies but also has been seen catching invasive Japanese Beetles.
This plant is a stunning native to the tallgrass prairie of the American Midwest. It occurs in grasslands and woodlands alike. It has most often been found on roadsides and outcrops, and in pastures. It is loves being in open, sunny spots.
This species is under threat due to the loss of habitat to agricultural use. Its native prairie habitat has been reduced so that now the plant mainly grows on roadsides and rights-of-way. It is also threatened by fire suppression, which eliminates the normal fire regime that keeps the habitat open and sunny. Larger and woody vegetation moves into the habitat when fire is reduced, and the Silene cannot compete.
(We recommend prescribed burns where possible every 5-7 years to not only compete with invasive or fast growing weeds, but to rejuvenate plants just like this one)
The scientific name for the family of plants that Royal Catchfly (Silene regia), Starry Campion (Silene stellata), and Fire Pink (Silene virginica) hail from, is a derivative of the name Silenus, the Greek god who presided over the other daimons and is associated with musical creativity, prophetic ecstasy, drunken joy, revelatory dancing and celebratory gestures; he was a close companion and tutor to the god of wine, thereby becoming the Star Companion (Starry Campion) of Dionysus. When intoxicated, Silenus was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy. King Midas was eager to learn from Silenus and caught him by lacing the wine fountain from which Silenus often drank. Silenus then became lost, wandering the city of Phrygia, eventually passing out and was rescued by peasants and taken to Midas, who treated him kindly. In return for Midas's hospitality Silenus told him numerous imaginative tales and the king, deeply enchanted by Silenus's fictions, entertained him lavishly for five days and nights. Dionysus offered Midas a reward for the return of his companion, and Midas chose the famous power of turning everything he touched into gold, entrapping him permanently, for having tricked his friend.
Plant Details:
USDA Zones: 4-9
Germination Needs: 60 Day Cold Stratification
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full to Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry
Plant Spacing: 1-2 feet
Height: 4 feet
Bloom Time: July, August
Bloom Color: Red
Advantages:
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perchs.
Excellent in home landscaping!
Native to: Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
.
.
Packet quantities:
We pride ourselves on ethical, hands on, ecological management, using no mechanical or chemical methods whatsoever.
All of our native seed is hand reared, hand picked, and hand packed from native prairies under our exclusive management, never breaking chain of custody from the field until it is sent to you. Each packet is hand prepared for shipment by us, directly.
Small seed species will contain greater than 20-25 seed
Large seed species will contain greater than 10-15 seed
It is our mission to spread the wealth of native plant and pollinator ecological sustainability, and educate back yard gardeners as well as corporate and government entities in how to germinate, grow, and benefit from native synergies.
Thank you for your support, it is because of you, that we can grow together to do, what we do.🐛🦋🐝🐞🌾🌱🌼🧡
