Night-Flowering Catchfly

• Native:

A number of Silene plants are native to BC, and several are rare. However, all native Silene are perennial and none have the stickiness of Night-Flowering Catchfly.

 

 

 

 

 

• Invasive:

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) seeds tend to be more grey in colour.

Night-Flowering Catchfly is native to Europe.

Night-Flowering Catchfly is common in cultivated fields, pastures, along railways, roadsides, and in disturbed areas. It thrives in sandy and gravelly soils and requires high summer temperatures (20°C and above) for germination.

Night-Flowering Catchfly is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. One plant can produce up to 2500 seeds and they are generally pollinated by moths. However, the plants can also self-pollinate, especially in contained areas (like greenhouses). Seeds are viable immediately after production, and remain viable in the soil for over 3 years.

Most Night-Flowering Catchfly seeds fall to the ground close to the parent plant. However, Night-Flowering Catchfly may also be spread in contaminated seed, since its seeds are very small and difficult to separate from clover seed. When ingested, seeds survive the passage through the digestive system of livestock, which also contributes to the plant’s spread.

Night-Flowering Catchfly is found in Whistler but not in other Sea to Sky communities, so the best approach to controlling its spread is by PREVENTION.

 

Learn to identify Night-Flowering Catchfly: use the images presented in this profile page to learn how to identify Night-Flowering Catchfly.

What to do if you spot it: You can report any Night-Flowering Catchfly sighting by clicking here.

 

DO:

• Regularly monitor properties for weed infestations.
• Ensure soil and gravel are uncontaminated before transport.
• Check wildflower mixes to ensure that they do not contain Night-Flowering Catchfly.
• Ensure that plants are disposed of in a garbage bag if found in floral arrangements to prevent seeds from spreading.

 

DO NOT:

• Do not unload, park or store equipment or vehicles in infested areas; remove plant material from any equipment, vehicles, or clothing used in such areas and wash equipment and vehicles at designated cleaning sites before leaving infested areas.
• Do not plant Night-Flowering Catchfly in a garden, no matter how well-contained its enclosure may seem.
• Do not move soil that has been contaminated with Night-Flowering Catchfly.
• Do not compost Night-Flowering Catchfly.

 

Control

Mechanical

Shallow cultivation can help reduce the plant’s density. In Britain, burning and early tillage are also used to decrease population density. The main objective of mechanical control is to prevent seed production since Night-Flowering Catchfly is an annual.

Chemical

There are limited herbicide options available for chemical control of this species. Call SSISC to discuss possible options for your site.

We recommend that any herbicide application is carried out by a person holding a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Before selecting and applying herbicides, you must review and follow herbicide labels and application rates; municipal, regional, provincial and federal laws and regulations; species-specific treatment recommendations, and site-specific goals and objectives.

Biological

There is no biological control agent available for this plant.