SILENE ITALICA

Description

A rather unusual campion with thin dividing stems, carrying many small white flowers which open from long slim buds, the calyces being striped in red. As they age, the petals twist like small propellers! Originating in the Alps and mountains of Provence, it has spread including to a location where it is a locally naturalized alien, discovered in 2005 on a coal mining spoil heap near Charleroi (Damprémy)!

Sowing Advice

For best results, sow immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. We sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination, as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, often waiting for natural spring germination, hence giving them a full season of growth.

Key Facts