Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke
Bladder Campion
Bladder campion is a native perennial of dry grassland, road verges, field margins and disturbed open ground, found across much of Britain. It produces upright, branching stems clothed in smooth, often greyish leaves, and is named for the conspicuous inflated, balloon-like calyx that sits behind each white flower.
About
Bladder campion is a native perennial of dry grassland, road verges, field margins and disturbed open ground, found across much of Britain. It produces upright, branching stems clothed in smooth, often greyish leaves, and is named for the conspicuous inflated, balloon-like calyx that sits behind each white flower. The deeply cleft petals give the blooms a delicate, ragged look, and the netted calyx is one of the easiest features by which to recognise the plant.
It favours well-drained, often calcareous or stony soils in full sun and copes well with poor, thin ground. Flowering through summer, often releasing scent in the evening, it offers nectar to bees, moths and other insects. The young shoots and leaves are edible and are gathered in parts of Europe as a leaf vegetable. Bladder campion settles readily into wildflower meadows and grassland mixes on lighter soils.
Also known as
Bladder Silene · Bladder campion · Cowbell · Maiden's Tears · Maidenstears · Rattleweed · Sculpit · Stridolo · maiden's-tears
Synonyms
Silene alpina · Silene cucubalus cucubalus · Silene willdenowii · Viscago behen
In our seed mixes
- BFS 11 – Coastal Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 12 – Green Roof Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 14 – Brownfield Site Wildflower Mix (Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land) – 80% Flora
- BFS11(F)- Coastal Meadow 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS12(F) – Greenroof 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS14(F) – Brownfield Site 100% Wildflower Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.