Silene stellata (Linnaeus) W.T. Aiton. Common name: Starry Campion, Widow's-frill. Phenology: Jun-Aug. Habitat: Dry to mesic forests, rock outcrops. Distribution: CT and VT west to SD, south to c. GA and TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, F, FNA5, GrPl, K4, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WV; > Silene stellata (L.) W.T.Aiton var. scabrella E.J.Palmer & Steyerm. — C, G, Il, Mi; > Silene stellata (L.) W.T.Aiton var. stellata — C, G, Il, Mi. Basionym: Cucubalus stellatus L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Silene stellata - FNA5
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Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect or ascending perennial of dry to mesic forests and rock outcrops.
Stems: Stems stiff, branched from the base, smooth to densely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves opposite on upper- and lower-most stem, mid-stem leaves in whorls of mostly 4; sessile to short petiolate; lance-shaped or oval; tapering to a sharp point; to 4 in. long; finely hairy beneath and smooth to rough above.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in open panicles; white; 3/4-1 in.wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals that are deeply and unevenly divided into 8-12 segments, giving the flower a fringed appearance, and a slightly inflated, smooth to hairy, bell-shaped calyx tube with 5 triangular lobes.
Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
Comments: The scentless flowers are often closed during the bright light of midday.
Height: 1-4 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect or ascending perennial of dry to mesic forests and rock outcrops.
stems: Stems stiff, branched from the base, smooth to densely hairy.
leaves: Leaves opposite on upper- and lower-most stem, mid-stem leaves in whorls of mostly 4; sessile to short petiolate; lance-shaped or oval; tapering to a sharp point; to 4 in. long; finely hairy beneath and smooth to rough above.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in open panicles; white; 3/4-1 in.wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals that are deeply and unevenly divided into 8-12 segments, giving the flower a fringed appearance, and a slightly inflated, smooth to hairy, bell-shaped calyx tube with 5 triangular lobes.
fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
comments: The scentless flowers are often closed during the bright light of midday.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern & central United States
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