Silene burchelli (100 seeds)

Silene burchelli (100 seeds)

It is a perennial herb growing to a height of 25 cm, with narrow, lance-shaped leaves, most of which are found at the base of the plant and lower half of the slender stems. Leaves are 2 – 4 cm long and around 5 mm wide.  The upper part of stem holds a few widely spaced pairs of small leaves ending in spike of well-spaced flowers, usually arranged to one side. The large tubular calyx, up to 2 cm long, is attractively ribbed with darker veins.  Flowers may be 12 to 20 mm across and consist of 5 deeply notched petals that open wide, at times even turning back over the calyx. Flowers open in the evening and fade by noon the following day.

Sowing instructions: Seed should be sown in autumn, in a well-drained seedling mix, and need only be covered lightly with the sowing mix, clean coarse sand or milled bark. The trays should be kept moist in a warm but shaded position.

Locality: Dasklip. Harvest: January 2024