Not Silene californica

[Roma]

I have shown this Silene in the Grow from Seed thread but noone offered a name there.  I suggested Silene armeria but Jonna said no.  Can anyone give me a name?

[gerrit]

I have the same problem. Got it as Silene californica, but unfortunately it is wrong.
A very quick grower. Annual perhaps.

[Diane Clement]

I have shown this Silene in the Grow from Seed thread but noone offered a name there.  I suggested Silene armeria but Jonna said no.  Can anyone give me a name? 

Roma, it may be Silene caroliniana which is commonly sent to seed exchanges labelled as S californica. It can flower in the first year, although it is perennial.  It does well outside here, very floriferous.

[Maggi Young]

Gerrit - perhaps Silene pendula ?

[gerrit]

I think Roma and have the same plant.

It is now to late here, tomorrow i'll study your suggestion Maggi. My first impression is a good one.

[Gene Mirro]

That looks like the one that I got as Silene hookeri, which it wasn't.  I don't know what it is.

[Maggi Young]

That looks like the one that I got as Silene hookeri, which it wasn't.  I don't know what it is.

All the ones I've had as Silene hookeri were  Lychnis ........
-not all bad though, since many of them have proved to be useful garden plants!

[gerrit]

Gerrit - perhaps Silene pendula ?

Roma, our plants seem to be a Silene pendula. Leaves spatulated (mine), 5 petals of course and each petal is divided. A white ring in the centre (not with Silene caroliniana). So there is a match with S.pendula as Maggi suggested.
I searched on the internet. Take a look here.

http://couchpotate.blog9.fc2.com/blog-entry-489.html

Another picture from my garden. This gives  a better view.

[Roma]

Yes, Gerrit that seems to be it.

[gerrit]

Thanks to Maggi.

[Gene Mirro]

My two plants of Silene californica are blooming now.



This is not an easy plant to keep, and I don't understand its needs.  If I collect seed, I'll let the forum know.

This is also not an easy flower to photograph.  Look at how over-exposed the red is.  Does anybody know how to keep this from happening?  I have already reduced the exposure quite a bit.

[Maggi Young]

Here are some photos from show reports in the forum of Silene californica  - various photographers, various lighting conditions, all indoors -  may be of interest to compare:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1798.msg45649#msg45649
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3562.msg93877#msg93877
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=5646.msg157050#msg157050
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10483.msg276956#msg276956

Forumists and SRGC officers Carol and David Shaw grow and show this plant - perhaps they can share their experiences of growing it in Morayshire in NE Scotland?

[David Shaw]

More a case of 'did' Maggi rather than 'do'! I don't remember the details of how we grew it but I don't think that we anything extra special. Coming from a certain nurseryman in Kirriemuir I accept that it was correctly named and we kept it going in the alpine house plung for quite a few years. I don't think that they are terribly long lived anyway, are they.

[Maggi Young]

At least you had a decent show plant for a few years, David!
I do agree that some Silenes do seem rather short lived - especially the less  ordinary ones, eh?!! 
I wonder how old those giant Silene hookeri ingramii  etc. of ' The Glenrothes Greenfinger ' might be?

[Maggi Young]

I do agree that some Silenes do seem rather short lived - especially the less  ordinary ones, eh?!! 
I wonder how old those giant Silene hookeri ingramii  etc. of Cyril ' The Glenrothes Greenfinger ' might be?

Just had a look at Cyril's "Growing for Showing" article from the Journal 2004 : available here - where he mentions a Silene hookeri subsp. bolanderi that he shows that was grown from seed in 1994. So he  can achieve at least ten years.......