Common Name:

General Information

Silene stellata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing fom a stout taproot with a branched taproot; it produces several stems around 30 - 80cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and central N. America - Minnesota to Vermont, south to Texas and Georgia

Habitat

Rich deciduous woods, river flats, tall-grass prairies; at elevations up to 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 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

A poultice of the roots is applied to dried up swellings that discharge pus[].

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.