SILENE. Campion. Northern Hemisphere, widespread. A huge group of annuals and perennials related to the true pinks (Dianthus) and resembling them in the shapes and colors of the flowers. They vary widely in size and habit. Broad to quite narrow leaves are paired along the stems. 5-petalled flowers of variable size, the petals often lobed or fringed, are borne mostly at the shoot tips. Many are fine rock garden plants. Others are suitable for the perennial border. The following prefer sun, well drained soils, and moderate watering and should be hardy to 10^oF or less.

 laciniata. Indian pink. A native of the American Southwest, including southern California, and Mexico. It makes compact crowns with erect to sprawling stems up to 2' long, lined by narrow, pointed leaves up to 3" long. Its 1/2-1" blossoms are borne singly or in clusters at the shoot tips in late spring and summer. They are bright red and have deeply slashed petals.

uniflora (S. maritima, S. vulgaris ssp. maritima). A vigorous, matting plant, suitable for small-scale ground cover. The typical form has oval blue green leaves up to 1" long. For much of the summer it carries an abundance of white, broad-petalled blossoms, each with an odd, inflated calyx. The flowers are 1" or more across. ‘Rosea’ is a more compact strain; the flowers are light pink with darker markings in the centers. ‘Swan Lake’ grows more open and has 1½” double white flowers.