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Silene caroliniana

Wild Pink · Sticky Catchfly

Family CaryophyllaceaeGenus Silene

A spray of pink five-petalled flowers with pale eyes, spilling from a crack in a dark rock face.
FlowerDr. Thomas G. Barnes - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Original uploader was Chhe at en.wikipediaPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
PinkExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
5-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Wild pink flowers in spring, and its pink flowers are visited by large bees, bee flies and hawkmoths. It is listed as endangered in Florida. Wikipedia: Silene caroliniana

Two sources report three treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 21 days.

100% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Silene p. 62Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). The following are updates. S. caroliniana germ. 100% in 2-7 d in 70D or 70L and 40(100% in 3rd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Silene p. 62. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around February 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in February; up in March and April.

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 30 days to germinate.

20% germination in 30 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Silene p. 214Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). While many Silene germ. at 70 like typical Caryophyllaceae, complex patterns and photoeffects were found in some species. OS seed of the following species germ. in 2-5 w at 70: S. pennsylvanica seed collected in June and placed outdoors germ. 1% in August and 37% in March and April. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 and placed outdoors in February germ. 20% in March and April. All other treatments gave germinations under 5% after many cycles. Oscillating temperatures are required.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Silene p. 214. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around February 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in February; up in August.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 180 days to germinate.

1% germination in 180 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Silene p. 214Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). While many Silene germ. at 70 like typical Caryophyllaceae, complex patterns and photoeffects were found in some species. OS seed of the following species germ. in 2-5 w at 70: S. pennsylvanica seed collected in June and placed outdoors germ. 1% in August and 37% in March and April. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 and placed outdoors in February germ. 20% in March and April. All other treatments gave germinations under 5% after many cycles. Oscillating temperatures are required.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Silene p. 214. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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