# cardinal catchfly (*Silene laciniata*) The cardinal catchfly is a bright red flower that loves to grow in sunny places. Its petals look like they are catching the sun, making it a beautiful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![cardinal catchfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Silenelaciniata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stickpen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silenelaciniata.jpg) ## Appearance The cardinal catchfly has dazzling cardinal-red flowers with petals so deeply fringed they appear shredded or lacy. Its slender stems often have sticky glands, giving it a 'catchfly' reputation. This vibrant plant stands out with its fiery color in dry landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Silene ## Interesting facts - Each petal is so deeply cut, it looks like a delicate, lacy snowflake! - It can bloom for many months, making hillsides look like they are on fire! - Its name 'catchfly' comes from sticky stems that can trap tiny bugs! - The brilliant red flowers are often visited by speedy hummingbird moths! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Defense:** Cardinal catchfly has sticky glands on its stems that can trap small insects, protecting it from munching herbivores. - **Fringed Signals:** It has deeply fringed red petals that act like a bright target, guiding busy pollinators to its sweet nectar. - **Desert Tough:** Cardinal catchfly can thrive in dry, rocky soils, thanks to a strong root system that helps it find deep water. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 20-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Western Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio rutulus*) — Feeds on nectar, carrying pollen. - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — Visits flowers for nectar, especially at dusk. - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Collects nectar and pollen. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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 flowers in nature, as some can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify cardinal catchfly? 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 cardinal catchfly? 30-90 cm ### How wide does cardinal catchfly spread? 20-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on cardinal catchfly? 2-3 cm ### When does cardinal catchfly bloom? Spring to fall ### Is cardinal catchfly edible? No ### Is cardinal catchfly toxic? None ### What is cardinal catchfly's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jasper-ridge-biological-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Regional Parks Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/regional-parks-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Black Mountain Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-mountain-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Campo de Cahuenga](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/campo-de-cahuenga) — California, US · Historic District - [Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chumash-painted-cave-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see cardinal catchfly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cardinal-catchfly) ## 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: [Cardinal Catchfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cardinal-catchfly)