Common Name: Night-Flowering Catchfly

General Information

Silene noctiflora is an erect, annual plant growing from a slender taproot. The stem can be unbanched below the inflorescence, or with a few basal branches, the plant growing 15 - 75cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Western and southern Europe to western Temperate Asia (w. China), widely naturalized in much of the northern temperate zone.

Habitat

Arable land, disturbed ground;, most commonly on sandy soils at elevations up to 3,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Moths
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in a sunny position in a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil[].
The flowers open overnight and are pollinated by moths[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A poultice of leaves is applied to the bites of prairie dogs[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.