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Caryophyllaceae
Bladder Campion
Silene vulgaris
humble resilience.
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Genus
- Silene
- Native to
- Europe, Asia, North Africa
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- perennial herb
- Height
- 1-2 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, calcareous, dry to moderately moist
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 3-7
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The bladder campion's inflated, balloon-like calyx is functional — it protects the flower's reproductive parts from short-tongued bees that would steal nectar through the side.
- Only moths with long enough tongues can reach the nectar from the front, making bladder campion one of the clearest examples of pollinator specialization in European flora.
- In Italy, Spain, and Greece, the young shoots are gathered in spring and eaten as a wild vegetable called 'stridoli' or 'grespino,' fried in olive oil or added to pasta and risotto.
- The same distinctive bladder calyx pattern appears across the 700+ species of Silene, making it one of the most recognizable traits of the whole genus.
- Despite being native to Eurasia, bladder campion has naturalized so completely across North America since colonial introduction that many botanists and hikers consider it a North American wildflower.
Color meanings
0
resilience
1
adaptability
2
unassuming strength