Bladder Campion

Bladder Campion: variety and characteristics

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) is a perennial vegetable of the Caryophyllaceae family. Bladder campion is a familiar and attractive flower with somewhat grey foliage, bearing summer clusters of fragrant white flowers, each set at the top of a green or reddish, inflated, bladder-like calyx.

Bladder campion is an annual herbaceous plant with an erect upper stem, standing from 20 cm - 1 metre tall.

The leaves are smooth, dark green, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate.

In folk medicine, bladder campion is used to treat gastritis, chronic bronchitis, and kidney and bladder diseases.

Bladder campion is a wild edible vegetable – the young shoots taste of peas and are eaten in salads, omelettes and soups.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 95%
• Seeds per packet: 238–322 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: February and March; direct
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Bladder Campion

Bladder Campion seeds are sown in February and March. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Bladder Campion

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 20–30 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Flowers from May to September. Sow directly once the danger of frost has passed. The ideal germination temperature is 20°C. Direct sowings take 2-3 weeks to germinate. Prefers moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full or partial sun.

Undemanding, tolerates drought.

Harvest and use

Pick the young tips in spring.

Frequently asked questions

When should Bladder Campion be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February and March. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 238–322 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 95%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.