Common Name:

General Information

Silene douglasii is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a stout taproot with a branched, woody caudex; it produces several to many, usually unbranched, slender, ascending stems around 10 - 40cm tall, occasionally to 70cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western N. America - British Columbia to Montana, south to California, Nevada and Utah

Habitat

Sagebrush, grassy or wooded mountain slopes, alpine meadows, rocky ledges, talus; at elevations up to 3,200 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Insects
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the roots is used as an emetic to treat stomach pain[].

A cold infusion of the plant is used as a lotion for treating coyote bites[].

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 the summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.