Royal Catchfly - Silene regia
The Royal Catchfly plant is native to the Midwest and traditionally has bright red flowers that attract many pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies. If you are looking for an easy-to-care-for plant that is also going to be stunning, Catchfly is the plant for you.
How to grow Royal Catchfly?
The royal catchfly is a perennial plant that comes back year after year and can spread if cared for properly and if you spread it manually at the end of each season. These plants traditionally have a red flower that grows on a tall stem that can reach up to 2 meters in height in some cases. These plants have smooth stems with tiny hairs on them.
Generally, these plants do not flower until June and go through July and August. Their flowers are stunning, a very intense and bright shade of red, and can add tons of color and visual interest to your garden. They are a lovely plant that is easy to care for and can add tons of color to your garden and landscaping.
They do not self-pollinate, so they must attract pollinators like butterflies. They are relatively easy to grow and can be a fantastic addition if you want to add some color and interest but are not looking to add a problematic plant that will require a lot of maintenance.
Caring for Royal Catchfly
Catchflies like the sun but do well in partial shade and are best in an area with partial sun. It is not a plant that will do well in full sun. It can be grown intermingled with other plants that offer shade as well. If you have an area with afternoon sun, this would be an ideal plant for that area.
If you are planting a royal catchfly plant, you want to ensure the soil is well-draining, as it does not do well in overly wet or dry soil. It can do well in both gravely and sandy soil as well. If you have an area that might not be best in terms of soil quality, the royal catchfly can still flourish there.
Since it is a prairie plant, you will need to wait between watering for the soil to dry out completely or as completely as possible. Overwatering can damage your plant. You can also fertilize if you want a larger plant and then repot when it doubles in size. If you are looking to get more blooms, taking the time to deadhead the plant can encourage it to grow more blooms and keep it blooming longer.
USDA Zone
Royal catchflies grow naturally in USDA zones 4 through 9 and do not do well in very cold climates. If you do have a very cold climate, you will need to bring your plant in every winter to prevent it from becoming damaged by frost and freezing.
Generally, the lowest temperature that this plant likes is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a very cold area, you will want to try to insulate the plant and protect it from damage overall. Even though this plant does not do well in cold temperatures, it is a relatively easy plant to grow and care for.
With minimal pruning when the blooms die back, proper watering and drainage, and adequate sun, your royal catchfly can be a stunning plant. Some varieties are pink or even white, but the normal or most common color for this plant is red.
Since they are red, they attract pollinators and hummingbirds, so if you are looking to attract more pollinators to your garden or landscaping, this is an easy and beautiful way to do it. We have a wide range of royal catchflies in our nursery and can help you find the plant that works best for you. This easy-to-grow flower is sure to make a stunning addition to any garden.
