Common Name: Bladder Campion

General Information

Silene vulgaris is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a dense cluster of stems from woody rhizomes; it can grow up to 80cm tall[].
The plant is a commonly used wild food, especially in the Mediterranean, and has at times been suggested for cultivation. It also has a range of medicinal uses and has sometimes been grown as an ornamental.
Silene vulgaris is a widespread species that is often common where it occurs with a population that appears to be stable at most of the sites. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2015)[].

Known Hazards

Although no mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it does contain saponins.
Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans.
Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins.
Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[].

Botanical References

Range

Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and temperate Asia.

Habitat

A wide range of habitats including sandy and stony pastures, meadows, yards, cultivated lawns, banks, roadsides, rocky cliffs, scrub, woodland clearings, uncultivated fields, wasteland, seashores, cracks in rocks, woodland and Mediterranean forest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Lepidoptera, Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Silene vulgaris is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when fully dormant[].
Succeeds in full sun to partial shade, preferring a well-drained moisture retentive light loamy soil[, , ]. Prefers moist humid to dry substrates that can be stony, clay, gritty loam or sandy, growing best in relatively poor soils with a basic pH[]. A deep-rooting, drought resistant plant, with leaves that have a bluish-green covering of wax to protect them from heat and the effects of drying winds[].
A good moth plant, the flowers secreting a pleasant, clove-like fragrance during the night[, ].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Young shoots and leaves - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. Eaten like spinach, used as a potherb or added to soups[]. The young leaves are sweet and very agreeable in salads[]. The cooked young shoots, harvested when about 5cm long, have a flavour similar to green peas but with a slight bitterness[]. This bitterness can be reduced by blanching the shoots as they appear from the ground[]. When pureed it is said to rival the best spinach purees[]. The leaves can also be finely chopped and added to salads[]. The leaves should be used before the plant starts to flower[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity above.

Medicinal

The plant is said to be emollient and is used in baths or as a fumigant[].

The juice of the plant is used in the treatment of ophthalmia[].

A decoction of the roots in milk or water are used as an emetic; a general antidote in the treatment of poisoning; and a remedy against constipation and intestinal pains[]
An infusion (of the roots?[]) is used externally to treat wounds, scabies, itching and various skin conditions[].

The plant is a potential immunostimulant, antiviral, and antibacterial[].

Other Uses

An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it is most likely that the following use can be made of the plant:-
The root is used as a soap substitute for washing clothes etc[, ]. The soap is obtained by simmering the root in hot water.

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.
If you have sufficient seed, an outdoor sowing in situ can be made.
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.