Berry catchfly is a scrambling perennial in the pink family that, unusually for its group, ends up with shiny black berries instead of dry seed capsules. It is native to Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa.
Appearance
- Growth form
- Long, branching stems sprawl and lean on surrounding plants rather than standing upright.
- Flowers
- White flowers hang singly at the branch tips, each with five petals split at the tip.
- Fruit
- Round black berries about 1/4–5/16 in (6–8 mm) across that don't split open; they hold many glossy black seeds.
Where it lives
- Range
- Native to Europe and widespread across temperate Asia and North Africa, including Japan. It isn't a North American plant, and wild sightings in the US are extremely rare.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Long known as Cucubalus baccifer, in a genus of its own because of the berries; it is now placed in the catchfly genus Silene.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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