Also known as Campion · 532 gardener saves
Silene: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Silene, the genus most gardeners know as campion. We track 16 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Silene varieties
Of 16 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedRed Campion
Silene dioica
#2 most savedFire Pink
Silene virginica 'Jackson Valentine'
#3 most savedWild Pink
Silene caroliniana 'Short and Sweet'
Royal Catchfly
Silene regia 'Prairie Fire'
Fire Pink
Silene virginica 'Fire Pinks'
Short and Sweet Wild Pinks
Silene caroliniana 'Short Sweet'
Hybrid Catchfly
Silene x hybrida 'Longwood'
Fire Pink
Silene virginica
Sweet William Catchfly
Silene armeria
Sea Campion
Silene maritima
Royal Catchfly
Silene regia
Drumstick Catchfly
Silene asterias
Browse all 16 Silene varieties →
How to grow Silene
What the Silene varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 16 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Silene year
- DeadheadMay–July81% of varieties
Remove spent flowers to maintain tidy appearance.
- Spring CleanupFebruary and March56% of varieties
Cut back dead stems to the ground before new growth starts.
- PlantMarch, April, September and October50% of varieties
Plant transplants in spring or sow seeds in fall.
- DivideMarch and September31% of varieties
Divide clumps every 3-4 years to rejuvenate growth.
- PropagateJune and July31% of varieties
Collect seeds after flower heads have dried on the plant.
Do
- Water regularly during dry spells 🌱
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms
- Mulch to retain soil moisture
- Water during dry spells 🌱
- Water during dry spells to keep soil moist 🌱
Avoid
- Overwater, which can cause root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
- Don’t disturb roots during flowering
What goes wrong with Silene
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on stems and leaves | Use insecticidal soap and increase humidity |
| Slugs | Holes in leaves, slime trails | Apply organic slug bait or copper tape |
| Root rot | Wilting, yellowing leaves | Improve drainage, reduce watering |
| Powdery mildew | White powder on leaves | Apply neem oil or sulfur-based fungicide |
| Powdery Mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Use organic fungicide and improve air circulation |
Making more Silene
Seed
- Tuck seeds into moist soil in early spring.
- Maintain soil moisture for 4-6 weeks until germination.
Division
- Divide clumps in early spring or fall
- Plant divisions at same depth and water thoroughly
Silene questions
How many types of Silene are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 16 distinct Silene varieties. The most popular — ranked by 532 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Silene grow in?
Across its varieties, Silene covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Silene bloom?
Most Silene varieties bloom in early summer, late spring, mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Silene should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Design with Silene in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
