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Catchfly

Silene regia

The Hummingbird’s Torch: Silene regia (Royal Catchfly)


The Snapshot

  • Common Name: Royal Catchfly

  • Scientific Name: Silene regia

  • Origin: Native to the Midwestern and Southeastern United States (Tallgrass Prairies)

  • Hardiness: Zones 5 – 8

  • The "Vibe": Striking, intense, and architectural; the "supernova" of the mid-summer prairie.

Why We Love It

Royal Catchfly is a vertical masterpiece. It sends up stiff, felted stems that can reach 3 to 4 feet tall, topped with clusters of star-shaped flowers.

  1. The "Electric" Red: The color is an incredibly pure, brilliant scarlet. It doesn't lean toward pink or orange; it is a true, royal red that is rare in the native plant world.

  2. The "Catchfly" Mechanism: The stems and calyxes (the green base of the flower) are covered in sticky, glandular hairs. Small crawling insects often get "caught" on the stems—a defense mechanism that prevents ants from stealing nectar intended for flying pollinators.

  3. The Stature: Unlike many prairie plants that can get "floppy," Silene regia has a very upright, structural habit that holds its own in a formal border.

Ecosystem & Wildlife Impact

  • The Hummingbird Specialist: This plant is evolutionarily "locked in" to the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The flowers have a long, narrow tube that only a hummingbird's beak (or a specialized moth's proboscis) can reach.

  • Butterfly Magnet: While designed for hummers, it is a frequent stop for Swallowtails and Clearwing Moths.

  • Conservation Status: It is becoming increasingly rare in its native prairie habitats, so planting it in your garden is a direct act of conservation.

Designer Tips: Where to Plant

  • The Hummingbird Gallery: Plant it right outside a kitchen window or near a patio. You are almost guaranteed a "show" every time it blooms.

  • The Red & Blue Contrast: Pair the fire-engine red of Silene regia with the deep indigo of 'May Night' Salvia or the steel-blue of Eryngium (Sea Holly).

  • The Prairie Pocket: Plant it in groups of three or five to create a "pillar of fire" effect in a native meadow or a modern perennial border.

Designer Pro-Tip: Royal Catchfly is a bit of a "late riser" in the spring and can be slow to establish its first year. Be patient! It spends its first season developing a deep taproot. Once established, it is a long-lived perennial that will reward you with more and more "stars" every summer.


Stories from the Garden

"I have a native garden, but I wanted one plant that would really 'pop.' The Royal Catchfly is that plant. It's the brightest red I've ever seen in nature. Last August, I watched a hummingbird visit every single flower on the stalk for five minutes. It’s the star of my yard."

— Terrence W., Zone 6 Gardener

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