Silene gallica aka Small Flowered Catchfly

Taxonomy

Silene gallica, also known as common catchfly, small-flowered catchfly, and windmill pink, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa, but can be found throughout much of the temperate world as a common roadside weed. This erect or semi-erect annual herb grows up to 50 cm tall and has branching stems covered in long, curling hairs and shorter, glandular hairs. The lance-shaped leaves are opposite, entire, and have acute apexes, with larger leaves on the lower parts of the plant and smaller leaves on the upper parts. The flowers grow in a terminal inflorescence at the top of the stem, with some appearing in the leaf axils. Each flower has a tubular calyx of fused sepals lined with ten green or purple-red veins. The calyx is coated in long, sometimes glandular, hairs and becomes inflated in fruit. There are five white, pink, or bicolored, spatulate petals, each with a small appendage at the base. There are ten stamens and three styles. The fruit is a brown, ovoid capsule with six apical teeth. Silene gallica is a useful plant, but it may also be poisonous. As a super rare houseplant, Common Catchfly needs regular watering to thrive and does best in long-lasting, direct light. It should be less than 1 foot from a window and likes soil that is well-draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Common names

Small Flowered Catchfly, Common Catchfly, French Catchfly, Five Wound Catchfly

How to care for Small Flowered Catchfly

Difficulty

Caring for Small Flowered Catchfly is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.

Water

Small Flowered Catchfly should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Small Flowered Catchfly loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Small Flowered Catchfly prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Fertilizer

Repotting the Small Flowered Catchfly should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.


More info:
Wikipedia