Silene regia - Royal Catchfly

A plant rarely seen in the wild due to habitat loss, but easy enough to grow in a home landscape. The scarlet, trumpeting flowers beckon to all the hummingbirds in the area, as well as Black Swallowtails. Smaller insects fall prey to the "catch" part of this plant: the stems and leaves are sticky. Although part of a carnivorous family, this head-turner does not gain nutrition from its captives. After getting stuck, the insects inevitably die. This presents another challenge for the plant. It isn't healthy to have rotting insects stuck all over it. This is where the digestive enzymes come in. They quickly breakdown the insect bodies, keeping them from becoming putrid.

Royal Catchfly is rare due to loss of prairie habitat and is endangered in some states but is relatively easy to grow. The bloom period is June-August for this excellent garden plant. We love this unique red flower in our gardens! Sticky calyx can trap or "catch" small insects, hence the common name. 

 

Royal Catchfly is considered ‘Endangered’ or ‘Threatened’ by most states within its range. Royal catchfly occurs in prairies, savannas, barrens, and open woodlands, usually on well-drained, often rocky soils. The conversion of these habitats to agricultural use is a primary cause of decline.

 

Royal Catchfly is one of a small number of red-flowered plants native to the Midwest, and one of very few, red-flowered, prairie plants. The flower shape and color are typical of plants pollinated by hummingbirds. Royal Catchfly is one of the very few prairie plants pollinated by hummingbirds. Only one species of hummingbird occurs regularly within the range of Royal Catchfly – the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). Hummingbirds are very effective at carrying pollen between subpopulations of royal catchfly, thus the birds’ presence helps maintain genetic diversity of this declining wildflower. Royal Catchfly is found growing wild in only a few isolated locations in the Midwest. Other common names include Prairie Fire.

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Life Cycle:                 Perennial

Sun Exposure:          Full, Partial

Soil Moisture:            Medium, Medium-Dry

Height:                       4 feet

Bloom Time:              July, August

Bloom Color:             Red

Pollinator Favorite:   Butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles

Bird Favorite:            Seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perch

USDA Zones:            4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Plant Spacing:          1-2'

Native:                       Missouri

Highly recommended for home landscaping

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