
Detail of specimen collected in Thalkirchen, Germany, September 2025(HD Scan)
Silene vulgaris
Scientific Name
Silene vulgaris
FAMILY
caryophyllaceae
LIFESPAN
perennial
BLOSSOM SYMMETRY
radial
Common Name
Bladder campion
ORDER
caryophyllales
BLOSSOM COLOR
white
PHYLLOTAXIS
alternate
Silene vulgaris, commonly known as bladder campion, is a perennial wildflower native to Europe and western Asia. It is distinguished by its inflated, bladder-like calyx that surrounds delicate white, five-petaled flowers, giving the plant its colloquial name. Unlike many wildflowers, its stems can grow sprawling or upright, often forming dense mats. Historically, the young shoots and leaves have been used as a leafy vegetable in Mediterranean cuisine, highlighting its cultural as well as botanical significance.
More Specimens

Specimen collected in Thalkirchen, Germany, September 2025(HD Scan)