Silene caroliniana (wild pink)

Japanese name: シレネ カロリニアナ
Scientific name: Silene caroliniana

[Overview]
A perennial about 20–30 cm tall, found in its native habitat on poor soils and rock outcrops.
Many stems grow in clusters, forming a mound.
The stems have soft hairs, often mixed with glandular hairs.
There are basal leaves and leaves opposite on the stem; both are simple, and the basal leaves are spatulate, up to 12 cm long.
The stem leaves are lanceolate to linear with entire margins.
The flowers are borne in corymb-like clusters at the stem tips; they are pink, five-petaled, about 1.5 cm across.
The petals open flat.
The lower part of the flower is enclosed in a tubular calyx.
The calyx has reddish purple to reddish brown veins and bears soft hairs or glandular hairs.
The flower stalk has glandular hairs.
The inflorescence has bracts.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, slightly dry soil that is not fertile.
It dislikes heat and humidity.
It is best kept on the dry side to avoid excess moisture; for potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary for plants in the ground; for potted plants, apply a small amount of slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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