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Cardinal Catchfly

Silene laciniata

Scarlet petals cut into narrow fringed lobes make this the most vivid catchfly in North America, and one of the few reliably hummingbird-pollinated members of the pink family. Grows through the skirts of shrubs on dry slopes, where its lax stems get support. Goes dormant after flowering.

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

1–2 ft

Spacing

1–1.5 ft apart

Light

part shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

neutral

Bloom

May, June, July, August

Bloom colors

red

Wildlife value

hummingbirds, pollinators

Landscape uses

border, naturalizing

Native states

AZ, CA, NM, TX