Plant Overview
An interesting and unusal native plant which is rarely seen. As night falls the flowers of the night-flowering catchfly open and release a strong fragrance which attracts night-flying moths which feed on the copious nectar and pollinate the plant. The flowers remain open all night.
The plant is covered with mild sticky hairs which catch very small insects which are a tasty treat for larger insects which do not become stuck.
White or very pale-pink flowers throughout the summer, followed by upturned seedpods.
In the wild it grows in rough ground and makes an easy and excellent garden plant which offers a great deal to the local wildlife.
Self-seeding annual - Leave the seed heads on to keep the plants going for future years.
Height and spread: 60cm x 30cm
Common name(s): Night-flowering Catchfly; Clammy Cockle.
Photo: homeredwardprice, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
