Bloom
Bladder Campion

Caryophyllaceae

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)

Silene vulgaris

Easy โ˜€๏ธ Bright indirect ๐Ÿพ Pet safe

A tough, easy plant: full sun, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil, little watering once established. Its deep taproot copes well with drought. It self-seeds freely, so deadhead if you don't want it to spread.

๐Ÿ’ง Watering

Every 10 days

โ˜€๏ธ Light

Bright indirect

๐ŸŒก๏ธ Temperature

-35ยฐ - ยฐC

๐Ÿ’จ Humidity

% - %

Categories

What is Bladder Campion?

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) is a easy-care plant from the Caryophyllaceae family. Silene vulgaris is a herbaceous perennial in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa and naturalised across much of North America. It forms clumps 50 cm to 1 m tall with grey-green leaves and a slightly woody base. From spring to late summer it opens white flowe...

Bladder Campion grows up to 80cm, spread of 50cm, watering every 10 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.

Unlike many tropical plants, Bladder Campion tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Unlike many popular species, Bladder Campion is safe to keep around pets.

How to Care for Bladder Campion?

TLDR: Bladder Campion needs Bright indirect, watering every 10 days, and temperatures between -35-30ยฐC with 40-70% humidity.

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How Often Should You Water Bladder Campion?

Water roughly every 10 days in the first year and during long dry spells. Once established, rainfall is usually enough. What it can't take is waterlogged soil, which rots the root.

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How Much Light Does Bladder Campion Need?

Prefers full sun; it tolerates light part shade but flowers less. Not a houseplant.

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What Is the Best Soil for Bladder Campion?

Well-drained sandy, chalky or loamy soil, mildly acid to alkaline. It does well in poor, stony ground; on heavy soil, mix in grit or coarse sand.

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What Pot Should You Use for Bladder Campion?

Best in the ground, but it grows in a deep pot (at least 30 cm, for the taproot) with drainage holes and a gritty mix.

What Is Bladder Campion and Where Does It Come From?

Silene vulgaris is a herbaceous perennial in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa and naturalised across much of North America. It forms clumps 50 cm to 1 m tall with grey-green leaves and a slightly woody base. From spring to late summer it opens white flowers with deeply notched petals, each sitting on an inflated, veined calyx that looks like a small bladder. In the wild it grows on roadsides, dry meadows and stony slopes.

How to Propagate Bladder Campion?

๐ŸŒฑ

Seeds

It self-seeds readily: often you only need to let a few flowers set capsules.

  1. 1
    Sow in early spring or autumn in trays of free-draining mix
  2. 2
    Cover the seeds with a thin layer of mix
  3. 3
    Keep in a cool, bright spot with the mix lightly moist
  4. 4
    Plant the seedlings out in summer once they are sturdy

Materials needed:

SeedsSeed tray or small potsSeed compost
โฑ๏ธ Time: germinates in 2-4 weeks ๐Ÿ“Š Success rate: high ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Best season: Spring
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Clump division

The taproot runs deep, so dig wide to avoid breaking it.

  1. 1
    Lift the clump in early spring
  2. 2
    Split it into pieces, each with roots and shoots
  3. 3
    Replant straight away in well-drained soil
  4. 4
    Water well until new leaves appear

Materials needed:

Garden fork or spadeClean knifeWatering can
โฑ๏ธ Time: 3-4 weeks ๐Ÿ“Š Success rate: medium ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Best season: Spring

How Big Does Bladder Campion Grow?

TLDR: Bladder Campion can reach up to 80cm tall with Medium growth rate.

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Max height

80cm

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Spread

50cm

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Growth rate

Medium

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Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Plant Uses

๐ŸŒบ

Ornamental

Great for decoration

๐Ÿฝ๏ธ

Edible

Can be consumed

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Culinary Uses

  • Young shoots and leaves raw in salads, before flowering
  • Older leaves sautรฉed with garlic, in omelettes, risotto and stews

Is your plant showing symptoms?

Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:

What Diseases Commonly Affect Bladder Campion?

TLDR: Bladder Campion is susceptible to 4 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.

Slugs and Snails

Medium

Slugs and snails are mollusks that feed on plant tissue, causing irregular holes in leaves and damage to young seedlings. They are most active at night and in moist conditions, leaving characteristic silvery slime trails. These pests can quickly devastate gardens, especially during wet seasons.

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Aphids

Medium

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) that feed by sucking nutrient-rich sap from plants. They reproduce rapidly and can quickly weaken plants, causing distorted growth and transmitting plant viruses. Aphids come in various colors including green, black, red, yellow, brown, and gray. They secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants and encourages sooty mold growth.

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Root Rot

High

Root rot is a serious fungal disease that affects the root system of plants, causing them to decay and die. It is primarily caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. The disease thrives in waterlogged conditions where roots are deprived of oxygen, making them susceptible to fungal infection.

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Powdery Mildew

Medium

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease caused by various fungi species including Erysiphe, Podosphaera, Oรฏdium, and Leveillula. It affects over 10,000 plant species worldwide. The disease thrives in warm, dry climates with high humidity and appears as a distinctive white powdery coating on plant surfaces.

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Fun Facts

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The swollen calyx behind each flower looks like a little bladder, which gave the plant its name

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In La Mancha, Spain, the leaves, called collejas, go into a dish called gazpacho viudo

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Its saponins make grazing animals tend to leave it alone

Frequently asked questions

Are bladder campion leaves edible?
Yes. Young shoots and leaves are eaten raw in salads before the plant flowers; older leaves are sautรฉed, added to omelettes or stews. Be sure of your identification before picking wild plants.
How often should I water bladder campion?
About every 10 days in the first year and in long dry spells. Once established it barely needs watering; soggy soil is the real danger.
Does bladder campion spread?
It self-seeds easily and the seeds stay viable in the soil for years. Deadhead before the capsules form to keep it in check.
Can I grow it indoors?
It isn't suited to indoors. It needs full sun and a cold winter to stay healthy.

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Sources & References

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