Wikimedia Commons
Caryophyllaceae
Ragged Robin
Silene flos-cuculi
Wild charm and tattered beauty.
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Genus
- Silene
- Native to
- Europe, western Asia
- Bloom season
- Late Spring, Summer
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–75 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- moist, marshy, neutral to acidic
- Water
- high; prefers damp meadows
- Hardiness
- 3–8
- Lifespan
- short-lived perennial
Did you know
- The deeply divided petals look 'ragged' or torn, giving the flower its whimsical common name.
- Its former Latin name 'flos-cuculi' means 'cuckoo flower' because it blooms when cuckoos sing.
- Ragged robin was a common sight in traditional European hay meadows, now declining with modern agriculture.
- Long-tongued butterflies and bumblebees are the main pollinators, reaching nectar in the deep tube.
- In Victorian flower language, ragged robin symbolized wit and ingenuity despite a humble appearance.
Color meanings
Pink
carefree spirit and rustic romance