# bladder campion (*Silene vulgaris*) Bladder campion is a pretty flower that grows in fields and meadows. It has unique balloon-like seed pods that look like tiny balloons, making it fun to spot! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![bladder campion](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/SileneVulgaris-bloem.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SileneVulgaris-bloem.jpg) ## Appearance The bladder campion has delicate white flowers with petals deeply notched, giving them a frilly look. Its most distinctive feature is the inflated, balloon-like calyx (the papery structure behind the petals) which is pale green or purplish, making it visually distinct from other wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Silene ## Interesting facts - In some parts of Italy, people gather the young leaves and shoots to cook and eat them like spinach or asparagus! - Its scientific name, \*Silene\*, might come from Silenus, a portly figure in Greek mythology, just like the flower's puffy shape! - The pretty white petals of this flower are deeply split, making them look like ten separate petals, but there are actually only five! - You might hear its dried seeds rattle inside the papery 'bladder' if you shake it, making a tiny natural maraca! ## Special abilities - **Puffy Protection:** Bladder campion has an inflated, papery calyx that helps protect its developing seeds from some insects and adverse weather conditions. - **Moth Magnet:** This plant's flowers release a stronger, sweet fragrance at night to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths, ensuring successful reproduction. - **Survivor Seed:** Bladder campion seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years, allowing the plant to regrow after disturbances and colonize new areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 20-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Elephant Hawk-moth (*Deilephila elpenor*) — Feeds on nectar, especially at night - **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Browses on young leaves and shoots - **Eaten by:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — Graze on the foliage ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild flowers, as some can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bladder campion? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bladder campion? 30-90 cm ### How wide does bladder campion spread? 20-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on bladder campion? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does bladder campion bloom? Late spring to late summer ### Is bladder campion edible? Yes ### Is bladder campion toxic? None ### What is bladder campion's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Derryfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/derryfield-park) — New Hampshire, US · Park - [Enfield Shaker Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enfield-shaker-museum) — New Hampshire, US · Museum - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Hudson Falls Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hudson-falls-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Parc linéaire de la rivière Saint-Charles](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-lin-aire-de-la-rivi-re-saint-charles) — Québec, CA · Park [View all places to see bladder campion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bladder-campion) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bladder Campion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bladder-campion)