Royal Catchfly

Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)
Also known as Prairie Fire or Red Catchfly

Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) is a brilliant, fire-red native wildflower native to the tallgrass prairies and glades of the central United States. With its vivid, tube-shaped scarlet blooms and upright form, it is one of the most striking native perennials for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, especially in dry meadows and prairie gardens. Blooming in mid to late summer, Royal Catchfly is both a nectar magnet and a visual showstopper, well-suited to restoration work and high-impact native garden designs.

Key Characteristics

• Top Native Nectar Plant for Hummingbirds
  Its bright red, tubular flowers are perfectly adapted for hummingbird pollination-especially ruby-throated hummingbirds-and are among the most effective native plants for attracting them. Blooming from July through September, it fills a vital role during hummingbird migration.

• Excellent for Dry, Sunny Prairies and Meadows
  Naturally found in open glades and well-drained prairies, Royal Catchfly thrives in dry to medium soils with full sun, making it ideal for low-input native plantings, pollinator strips, and xeric gardens.

• Supports Butterflies and Other Pollinators
  In addition to hummingbirds, the vivid blooms attract butterflies, long-tongued bees, and beneficial wasps, providing a diverse nectar source during mid-summer when other native plants may be dormant.

• Clump-Forming with Bold, Upright Growth
  This plant typically grows 2-4 feet tall, forming upright clumps with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. It pairs beautifully with grasses like little bluestem and native companions like echinacea and rattlesnake master.

• Dramatic Color for Native Borders and Prairie Restoration
  One of the few true red wildflowers native to North America, Royal Catchfly offers unmistakable visual impact and is particularly effective in mass plantings, pollinator gardens, and tallgrass prairie reconstructions.

Product Details

• Native Range: Central U.S. - from Ohio and Indiana west to Kansas and Texas
• Plant Life Cycle: Perennial
• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Dry to medium, well-drained soil
• Mature Height: 2-4 feet
• Bloom Time: July-September
• Bloom Color: Bright red
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Royal Catchfly is a bold, nectar-rich native that brings fiery color and hummingbird activity to dry, sunny gardens and ecological plantings.