Arctic catchfly Plant Care
Silene hornemannii hort. ex Fenzl
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
With its striking silvery leaves covered in fine hairs, this plant originates from Greenland and is a prized addition to any plant collector's garden. Silene hornemannii's unique foliage adds a touch of elegance and texture to any collection, making it an eye-catching and desirable plant to grow.
Every 3–7 days
Full sun to partial shade
40–70°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Arctic catchfly?
Water Arctic catchfly every 3–7 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 40–70°F (4–21°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 2 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Arctic catchfly Native To?
- Albania
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
What Is the Arctic catchfly?
Arctic catchfly (Silene hornemannii) belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family within the Silene genus. Arctic catchfly is native to Europe and introduced to the Americas. Arctic catchfly is also known as Hornemann's campion.
Arctic catchfly displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Arctic catchfly produces small, star-shaped flowers in various colors.
Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Arctic catchfly?
Silene hornemannii requires watering every 3–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–7 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Arctic catchfly Need?
Arctic catchfly thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Arctic catchfly Prefer?
Silene hornemannii grows best at temperatures of 40–70°F. Arctic catchfly prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
40–70°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Arctic catchfly?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Arctic catchfly to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Arctic catchfly?
Feed Arctic catchfly every 2 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 2 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Arctic catchfly?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Arctic catchfly?
Arctic catchfly can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alpine catchfly plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Arctic catchfly Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Arctic catchfly, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Arctic catchfly?
Arctic catchfly is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, leaf miners. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Arctic catchfly is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Silene genus — compare its care with other Silene species on PlantoScan.
Silene is part of the Caryophyllaceae plant family — browse all Caryophyllaceae genera and species.
Arctic catchfly thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Silene Species
Other Silene species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Silene hornemannii hort. ex Fenzl, family Caryophyllaceae (first published in Adv. Bot. [9]; in Del. Sem. Hort. Vindob. (1851).) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Arctic catchfly, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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