Silene schafta – A Late-Summer Carpet of Colour

General Information

Native to the Caucasus Mountains and parts of Asia, Silene schafta is valued for its toughness, compact habit, and ability to thrive in well-drained soils and sunny positions.

• Habit: Low, mat-forming perennial with a neat, spreading habit.

• Height & spread: Typically grows 10–15cm tall and 30–40cm wide.

• Foliage: Fresh green, narrow leaves forming a tidy, semi-evergreen mat.

• Flowers: Small, five-petalled, vivid pink to magenta blooms in dense clusters.

• Flowering season: August to October, providing colour late in the year.

• Position: Prefers full sun but tolerates very light shade.

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil; thrives in sandy or gritty ground.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy across the UK and Ireland.

• Uses: Perfect for rock gardens, sunny borders, alpine troughs, edging, and groundcover.

Its vibrant flowers and neat habit make it especially useful for adding late-season colour to areas that might otherwise look tired.

Care Guide

Silene schafta is tough, reliable, and very low-maintenance, making it ideal for beginner gardeners or those with dry, sunny spaces.

Planting

• When to plant: Best in spring or autumn, though container-grown plants can be set out anytime.

• Depth & spacing: Plant at the same depth as in the pot; space 30–40cm apart for groundcover or edging.

• Containers: Excellent for alpine troughs or shallow pots with gritty, free-draining compost.

• Companions: Pairs beautifully with alpine plants, sedums, or other drought-tolerant perennials.

Watering & Feeding

• Water regularly after planting to establish roots.

• Once established, drought-tolerant and needs little watering except in very prolonged dry periods.

• Feed in spring with a general-purpose or low-nitrogen fertiliser to encourage healthy growth and abundant blooms.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Deadhead faded flowers to prolong blooming into autumn.

• Lightly trim plants after flowering to maintain a compact, tidy habit.

• Every 3–4 years, lift and divide clumps in spring or autumn to keep plants vigorous and prevent overcrowding.

Protection

• Fully hardy and tolerates frost and cold winters without protection.

• Avoid waterlogged soils, especially in winter, as these can damage roots.

• Generally pest- and disease-free, making it highly reliable.

Why Choose Silene schafta?

This resilient perennial offers bright colour, easy care, and long-lasting value.

• Late-season blooms: Adds vivid pink flowers when many other plants have finished flowering.

• Compact size: Perfect for edging, rock gardens, and small spaces.

• Drought-tolerant: Thrives in sunny, well-drained areas with minimal watering.

• Low-maintenance: Hardy and reliable with little pruning required.

• Versatile planting: Suitable for alpine gardens, containers, groundcover, or sunny borders.

The Silene schafta is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to extend the season of colour with minimal effort. Its cheerful flowers, compact growth, and resilience to tough conditions make it an invaluable plant for low-maintenance gardens, rockeries, and sunny spots where late summer colour is most welcome.

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.