Silene csereii (Balkan Catchfly)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Silene |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae (Pink) |
| Life cycle: | biennial, short-lived perennial |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Status: |
|
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; dry; fields, along roads, waste areas |
| Bloom season: | June - September |
| Plant height: | to 40 inches tall |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/silene-csereii-7.jpg)
Long branching racemes of nodding flowers at the top of the plant and arising from upper leaf axils. Flowers have 5 white petals that are deeply divided into 2 lobes; petals are tightly curled up before spreading out. Long, purple tinged stamens extend out of the throat. The calyx is light green to pinkish, smooth with about 20 faint parallel veins from the base and 5 triangular lobes at the tip. Flowers are about ¾ inch long from the base of the calyx to the tip of the stamens.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/silene-csereii-balkan-catchfly_0629_122211.jpg)
A few basal leaves wither away by flowering time. Stem leaves are up to 4 inches long, 1½ inches wide, toothless, hairless, generally egg-shaped with a pointed tip, no stalk, and clasp the stem. Leaf color is light green to slightly blue-green. Attachment is opposite with pairs at right angles to the pair above and below. Stems are smooth, often with a waxy bloom, and typically unbranched except in the flowers.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/silene-csereii-balkan-catchfly_0822_100500.jpg)
Fruit is a teardrop shaped capsule about as long as the calyx. When ripe, it splits open at the top with the 6 teeth flaring out. Inside are grayish-brown, kidney-shaped seeds.
Notes:
Distinguishing features of Balkan Catchfly are the smooth calyx, clasping egg-shaped leaves and waxy bloom on the stem. A similar species is Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), which has narrow leaves, distinct venation on its more inflated calyx, and is a shorter, more heavily branched plant. When not flowering, the leaves may be easily mistaken for Dalmation Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica), a more aggressive invasive species which has alternate leaves, where Balkan Catchfly has opposite leaves.
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More photos
Balkan Catchfly plant
Balkan Catchfly plants
Balkan Catchfly plants
early rosette
flowers with curled up petals
Balkan Catchfly plant
Balkan Catchfly plants
Balkan Catchfly plants
early rosette
flowers with curled up petalsPhotos by K. Chayka taken in Chisago, Dakota and Ramsey counties. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka and Ramsey counties.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-06-11 17:50:52
I am positive this is what we have. First year I have noticed this plant on our bluff area of lakeshore.
on: 2010-07-09 15:35:44
We have this plant, first year I've seen it, along our driveway. One good clump and a couple tiny plants also.
on: 2011-06-20 11:03:28
Found along the crumbling asphalt of the old bureau of mines campus in Minneapolis near Fort Snelling.
on: 2012-07-16 22:58:29
First year I noticed this plant growing along gravel roadsides.
on: 2013-07-28 22:18:18
North Star WMA
on: 2014-07-28 13:29:35
at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, June 2014 and earlier
on: 2014-08-11 10:36:45
I photographed this plant/weed growing along a gravel road adjacent to a wetland near Sedan, MN in Pope County. It did remind me of a miniature version of White Campion which grows almost everywhere.
on: 2014-12-04 14:16:54
This was discovered during the Fish Creek Invasive Plant Blitz May 22, 2014. It was not blooming and a volunteer thought it might be Dalmatian toadflax, a MN Noxious Weed on the eradicate list. The non-flowering plants look similar, however, this plant has opposite leaves. Dalmatian toadflax has alternate leaves. Balkan catchfly is now included in the "Look-alike" section of the MNDOT MN Noxious Weed Booklet.
on: 2016-06-11 13:15:30
I have never seen this plant before in my over 40 years living and gardening in southern St. Louis County.
on: 2018-06-27 09:59:55
Found a small grouping of 3 with 4 singles in the area (20 sq ft) where a new paved trail was placed last year. I have walked this for years and never saw them in the area before. May be due to the city not mowing the area anymore with the path in place.
on: 2018-07-15 13:23:21
Found in my gravel driveway. Solitary specimen. Knew it was a campion of some kind but couldn't figure it out until using this wonderful guide! Too bad it's an alien because I think it's delicacy & curled petals attractive. Thankfully it doesn't seem to be invasive.
on: 2019-06-30 18:24:27
I was delighted to see this new addition to my yard after having my driveway modified. A tough plant with a delicate bloom.
on: 2020-06-20 17:56:32
I've never seen this before. It showed up on the edge of my wildflower bed, along a suburban street.
on: 2022-07-02 15:37:58
Quite a bit of this cool-looking Campion in the gravelly shoulder on either side of a small county road that goes through a low-lying marshy area, though this plant is in the roadbed, which was recently rebuilt, so maybe the seeds came in with the gravel.
on: 2022-07-05 19:17:53
I'm pretty sure this is what decided to take up residence in my new perennial rock garden. Must have come in with the new dirt. Small grouping coming out of the rocks in one spot. Looks like a dainty bouquet of small nodding white heads on blue greenish leaves
on: 2024-01-12 12:47:43
I'm reasonably certain (because I always dig it out before it gets going) that rosettes of this glaucous plant continue to be delivered with class 5 limestone we use to resurface the driveway every so often. Every load, there's a few. Loads coming from the Carver Pit, Carver County.
on: 2024-05-06 21:04:46
I've been fighting this noxious pest or the better part of 14 years now. It isn't terribly invasive but it seems to pop up almost anyplace. I hope I can get rid of it once and for all.
on: 2024-05-29 17:15:11
Found 5/28/2024. Photographed and posted on INaturalist. Curious how serious of an invasive weed this is - given its presence at the SNA.
on: 2024-05-29 18:09:33
Jonathan, I would call it more weedy than invasive.
on: 2024-06-26 20:29:06
Saw in flower 6/23/2024 in parking lot on border of Mille lacs WMA and Rum River State Forest.
on: 2024-07-10 17:11:37
This appeared in my driveway a year after I had some soil delivered. It readily reseeds there every year. Grown in the garden with better conditions it becomes a very handsome plant especially when grown in clumps. A weed to some; treasure to others it seems.
on: 2024-07-25 23:36:36
Found 5/28/2024. Photographed and posted on INaturalist. Curious how serious of an invasive weed this is - given its presence at the SNA.
on: 2024-07-26 07:30:41
Jonathan, I have not seen it form anything approaching a monoculture anywhere (yet), though in weed-infested areas such as roadsides and empty lots it may be more abundant. In higher quality habitat it's been more as scattered plants.