Bladder Campion

Description

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) is a familiar native wildflower found throughout the UK. It grows naturally in grasslands, farmland, open woods, hedgerows, coastal areas, and along roadside verges. This adaptable plant thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers dry, calcareous soils, although it will also grow well in most garden soils.

Flowering from May to September, Bladder Campion brings a light, airy charm to wildflower meadows, natural planting schemes, and wildlife-friendly gardens. It is a valuable nectar plant, attracting a wide range of pollinating insects throughout the summer months.

How to Identify

Bladder Campion is easy to recognise thanks to its distinctive inflated calyx, a balloon-like swelling formed by fused sepals that sits just behind the flower. The blooms themselves are pure white, with five soft petals and long white stamens that give them a delicate, starry appearance.

The flowers are carried in loose, branching clusters on stout, erect stems, and the plant has an overall greyish-green tone. It is a medium to tall wildflower, typically growing up to 80cm in height.

How to Grow

Bladder Campion is an easy and reliable plant to grow, particularly suited to sunny, open positions. It performs best in well-drained, lime-rich soils, but is tolerant of a range of soil types once established.

It is ideal for wildflower turf, meadow areas, and informal borders, where it can naturalise over time. Minimal care is required, and it fits perfectly into low-maintenance, wildlife-focused planting schemes, providing long-lasting interest and support for pollinating insects.