Silene dioica ‘Firefly’

Description

Silene dioica ‘Firefly’

Double flowers in the most shocking pink imaginable makes Silene dioica ‘Firefly’ a plant that is sure to be noticed. Can be grown in a sunny border, where it will make a substantial clump, or in a wilder setting in dappled shade. 60cm tall by as much wide if space and nutrition allows. Will flower on and on from early summer onwards.

Silene are the Campions or Catchflies, two common names that are shared with some of the closely related Genus Lychnis. There a large number of alpine members in this genus, but we are chiefly concerned with a fewer number of herbaceous species.

Silene is best known as red campion, a plant that is commonly seen growing along our roadsides and woodland edges, making a lovely combination with bluebells and stitchwort. It’s is an easily pleased plant, but will grow most happily in a moisture retentive but well drained soil in dappled shade. Red campion is Silene dioica. The specific epithet ‘dioica’ refers to the dioecious nature of its flowers – the fact that they are either male or female, not hermaphroditic as in the majority of plants. This is genetically controlled in a very similar way to sex is determined in you and I and has led to Silene being much used in the genetic study of sex determination.

There is an African species, Silene capensis, The Dreamroot  or Gunpowder Plant, whose roots are ground and made into a drink. Diviners of the Xhosa in South Africa use this drink at the Full Moon to induce visions in their dreams. The plant has such a heavy musty aroma that the smell will come through in the sweat of those that take the drink.

Catchfly is a reference to the sticky nature of the stems of some Silene and Lychnis species.

Silene is a name that has been used by herbalists since the Middle Ages, it is the feminine form of Silenus, a Greek woodland deity.