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Plant Profile

Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)

Closeup of the red, 5-petaled pinwheel flowers of this species. Photo Credit:

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Caryophyllaceae
State: AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, MO, MS, OH, OK, TN, WI
Nature Serve ID: 128777
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 01/01/1985

Description:

This species is one of the Midwest's most beautiful and conspicuous prairie wildflowers, presenting brilliant red flowers during much of the summer. This showy perennial produces 5-petaled crimson-red flowers that are approximately 2 inches in diameter, during the months of June-September. These flowers have a sticky calyx that can catch insects, which is how it got the common name of Royal catchfly. Many flowers are produced at once, but not all yield fruit and seed. Fruit that is produced has 20-40 seeds, which have been shown to have a high germination rate. This plant can grow from 24-48 inches in height. It has a long, slender, reclining stem, and 10-20 pairs of downy, lancelike leaves. There are also sticky hairs on the stem of this taxon. The leaves are slightly pointed at their tips. The Royal catchfly is usually multi-stemmed and produces more seedlings when its habitat is burned because seeds need little to no litter layer in order to germinate.

Where is Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Found in open woods, glades, meadows, and calcareous prairies. Found mostly in the sun, in rich, well drained soil. Also likes prairie remnants, cemeteries, by railroads, and powerline right of ways. Found by roadsides and in dry rocky areas in general. Found in soil in open woods, and wood margins. Likes well drained, calcareous, and cherty soils. Can also be found on limestone barrens, and remnant prairies. Likes mesic, dry mesic, and wet mesic prairies. Also is found on dry savannahs and dry woods. Especially found on calcareous or chert substrates.

Distribution:

Found historically in Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Florida.

States & Provinces:

Royal Catchfly can be found in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wisconsin

Which CPC Partners conserve Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)?

Holden Forests and Gardens

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

03/14/2023

Missouri Botanical Garden holds accessions of Silene regia in orthodox seed banking.

Center for Plant Conservation

11/25/2021

Indexed material was propagated by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia from the last known population of Silene regia in the state of Georgia. Plants were reintroduced back to their source population to bolster or augment the population which was down to 13 individuals. SBG planted 72 individuals in 2004. In 2008, 30 individuals were planted in a safeguarding site at a State Park within the original range of the species.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Midwestern endemic of tallgrass prairie habitats, now with relatively few, scattered populations coupled with continued destruction of habitat. Apparently most abundant in Missouri; extirpated from Kansas and Tennessee, and considered quite rare in all other states in range. Many remaining population remnants are along roadsides where vulnerable to construction or to changes in management of roadside vegetation.

Dawn M. Gerlica and Lindsey Parsons

01/01/2010

Overgrowth by woody species Casual picking of the flowers Digging by wildflower gardeners Spreading of non-native Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis) Fire suppression Conversion of its habitat to farmland Massive habitat destruction

Dawn M. Gerlica and Lindsey Parsons

01/01/2010

Unknown, but this species appears to do well in restorations.