Intro: Erect to leaning perennial of dry prairies, calcareous woodlands and rocky, open woods.

Stems: Stems mostly unbranched, covered with fine white hairs.

Leaves: Leaves opposite and each pair perpendicular to the next, sessile, lance-shaped, to 5 in. long, with upper and lower surfaces covered with fine white hairs.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in branching terminal cluster, bright red, 3/4-1 in. wide, consisting of 5 spreading narrow petals (may be slightly toothed at the tip) and a 1-in.-long, tubular calyx that is longitudinally ridged and covered with sticky hairs. Protruding stamens bearing gray anthers.

Fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.

Comments: Rare; the similar Silene virginica is shorter, blooms earlier and its petals have prominently notched tips.

Height: 2-4 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect to leaning perennial of dry prairies, calcareous woodlands and rocky, open woods.

stems: Stems mostly unbranched, covered with fine white hairs.

leaves: Leaves opposite and each pair perpendicular to the next, sessile, lance-shaped, to 5 in. long, with upper and lower surfaces covered with fine white hairs.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in branching terminal cluster, bright red, 3/4-1 in. wide, consisting of 5 spreading narrow petals (may be slightly toothed at the tip) and a 1-in.-long, tubular calyx that is longitudinally ridged and covered with sticky hairs. Protruding stamens bearing gray anthers.

fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.

comments: Rare; the similar Silene virginica is shorter, blooms earlier and its petals have prominently notched tips.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southcentral United States