Plant Profile: Silene stellata

Taxonomy: Silene stellata

Names

Starry Campion, Widow's Frill

  • Photo of Silene stellata (Silene stellatas)

Phonetic Spelling:sy-LEE-nee stell-AY-tuh

Genus:Silene

Species:stellata

Family:Caryophyllaceae

Starry Campion is a perennial plant from the pink family, characterized by its upright, loosely branching form and native to the eastern United States. Its leaves are arranged in whorls of four, while the flowers are found in terminal clusters, featuring white tubular blooms with deeply fringed, flaring petals. This plant typically reaches heights of 2 to 3 feet and thrives in rich woodlands and open fields.

For optimal growth, cultivate Starry Campion in areas that receive partial to full sunlight, and ensure the soil is average to rich and moist. It is an excellent choice for wildflower gardens, particularly in naturalized settings, as well as in native or pollinator gardens and woodland environments.

Silene stellata Feature Summary

Silene stellata Image Gallery

Tags

#perennial
#white flowers
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden

Similar Plants

Silene stellata Feature Summary

Attributes
Eastern and central USA
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Bees and moths are attracted to the flowers.
Perennial
Fruit
Ovoid seed capsule with 6 teeth along its upper rim containing several seeds.
Flowers
A loose cluster of 3/4 inch white flowers with deeply fringed petals and an inflated bell-shaped calyx. Flowers may close slightly in the heat of the day. Blooms mid to late summer or fall.
Tubular
Bell
Leaves
Whorls of 4 lance-shaped leaves in the middle of the stem up to 4 inches long with minutely downy undersides.
Lanceolate
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Wildflower
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Native Garden
Woodland
Meadow
Bees
Moths

Silene stellata Attributes

Silene stellata: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eastern and central USA

Silene stellata: Distribution

AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV

Silene stellata: Wildlife Value

Bees and moths are attracted to the flowers.

Silene stellata: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Silene stellata: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Silene stellata Fruit

Silene stellata: Fruit Description

Ovoid seed capsule with 6 teeth along its upper rim containing several seeds.

Silene stellata Flowers

Silene stellata: Flower Description

A loose cluster of 3/4 inch white flowers with deeply fringed petals and an inflated bell-shaped calyx. Flowers may close slightly in the heat of the day. Blooms mid to late summer or fall.

Silene stellata: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Silene stellata: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Silene stellata: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Silene stellata: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Silene stellata Leaves

Silene stellata: Leaf Description

Whorls of 4 lance-shaped leaves in the middle of the stem up to 4 inches long with minutely downy undersides.

Silene stellata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Silene stellata: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Silene stellata: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Silene stellata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Silene stellata Whole Plant Traits

Silene stellata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Silene stellata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Silene stellata: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Silene stellata Cultural Conditions

Silene stellata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Silene stellata: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Silene stellata: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Silene stellata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Silene stellata: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Silene stellata Stem

Silene stellata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Silene stellata Landscape

Silene stellata: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Silene stellata: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Silene stellata: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees