British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry
branched perennial of disturbed ground and grassy habitats. Sometimes hybridises with Red Campion. FLOWERS White, 25–30mm across, with 5 petals; dioecious, male flowers smaller than females (May–Oct). FRUITS With erect teeth. LEAVES Oval, in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common.
Moss Campion
Moss Campion
Moss Campion Silene acaulis
Charming, cushion-forming perennial. Found on mountain tops and rocky ledges, but also near the sea in the far north. FLOWERS Pink, 9–12mm across, with 5 petals (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, densely packed, giving the cushion a moss-like appearance. STATUS Local on suitable mountains, from Wales northwards.
Red Campion
Red Campion Silene dioica HEIGHT to 1m
Hairy biennial or perennial of hedgerows, grassy banks and wayside places generally. FLOWERS Reddish pink, 20–30mm across; male flowers smaller than females and on separate plants (Mar–Oct). FRUITS Revealing 10 reflexed teeth when ripe. LEAVES Hairy, in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common.
Nottingham Catchfly flower in daytime
Nottingham Catchfly
Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans
Slightly downy and sticky perennial of calcareous grassland and shingle beaches. FLOWERS Nodding, 17mm across; pinkish-white petals are inrolled in the daytime but roll back at dusk (May–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval; lower ones stalked but stem leaves unstalked. STATUS Local and scattered.
Bush, Robin
Night-flowering Catchfly
Night-flowering Catchfly Silene noctiflora
Stickily hairy annual of arable fields, mainly on chalk or sandy soils. FLOWERS Similar to White Campion but with petals pinkish above, yellowish below; inrolled by day, opening at night, when they are scented (May–July). FRUITS Capsules with 6 reflexed teeth. LEAVES Ovate. STATUS Local and declining.
Small-flowered Catchfly
Small-flowered Catchfly Silene gallica
Stickily hairy annual of arable land and disturbed, mainly sandy soils. FLOWERS Pinkish or white, and sometimes flushed red at the base (var. quinquevulnera, see photo left), 10–12mm across; in 1-sided spikes (June–Oct). FRUITS Inflated capsules. LEAVES Hairy, upper ones narrower than basal ones. STATUS Widespread but local and generally scarce. Restricted to unimproved arable fields.
Sand Catchfly
Sand Catchfly Silene conica
Upright, stickily hairy, greyish-green annual. Found on sandy soils, mainly coastal. FLOWERS 4–5mm across, with 5 notched and pinkish petals; in clusters (May–July). FRUITS Forming within inflated, flagon-shaped capsules. LEAVES Narrow, downy. STATUS Local and scarce, restricted mainly to coastal SE England.
Cleave, Andrew
Soapwort
Soapwort Saponaria officinalis
Straggling, hairless perennial with brittle stems. Found on roadside verges and waste ground, and in damp woodland. FLOWERS Pink, 25–35mm across (June–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrowly oval, distinctly veined. STATUS Possibly native in a few sites but mainly a naturalised garden escape.
Ragged-robin
Ragged-robin Lychnis flos-cuculi HEIGHT to 65cm
Delicate-looking perennial of damp meadows, fens and marshes. FLOWERS Pink, with 5 petals, each divided into 4 ‘ragged’ lobes (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, grass-like, rough; upper ones in opposite pairs. STATUS Widespread and common, but decreasing through agricultural changes (e.g. land drainage).
Maiden Pink
Maiden