Flower profile

Bladder campion

Silene vulgaris

Bladder campion (Silene vulgaris) is a flowering plant in the Caryophyllaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Bladder campion is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

41states where USDA records it

3Bloomipedia state lists include it

12,971U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Michigan, New York, Vermont

Quick look

Silene vulgaris, the bladder campion or maidenstears, is a plant species of the genus Silene within the family Caryophyllaceae. Native to the Old World, the plant has been naturalized elsewhere, including North America. The young shoots and leaves are edible.
From Wikipedia's article Silene vulgaris, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 41 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Michigan, New York and Vermont. ^NatureServe
In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,187 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #39 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,735 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #85 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,076 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #80 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,362 records)

Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Michigan	Introduced	June–August	3,187
New York	Introduced	June–August	2,735
Vermont	Introduced	June–September	1,076

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Silene acaulis (“Moss Campion”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bladder campion in 41 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Menominee, Monroe, Montmorency, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ontonagon, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Washtenaw.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Oberna commutata, Silene cucubalus, Silene inflata.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 563 counties across 36 states; the most are in Michigan (51), Virginia (50), Pennsylvania (49).

Other Silene on Bloomipedia (4): White campion, Fire pink, Cardinal catchfly, Moss campion.

More from the Caryophyllaceae family (9 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common soapwort, Deptford pink, Star chickweed, Maiden pink, Sea sandwort.

More Michigan flowers

Common soapwort

Saponaria officinalis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: July–September

White campion

Silene latifolia

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: May–August

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SIVU.
iNaturalist, Silene vulgaris: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Silene vulgaris (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Silene vulgaris (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.