Bladder Campion

Silene vulgaris

Life Cycle

A tap rooted perennial spreading by seed and severed root pieces.

Emergence

Seedlings emerge from shallow depths throughout the growing season.

Flowers

Flowers appear from mid-June through fall.

Reproduction

• Seed
  The main method of spread is by seed. Large quantities of seed are produced from mid-July through fall. Seed remains viable in the soil for many years.
  
  
• Vegetative
  Reproduction from root pieces and severed crown pieces are the secondary means of reproduction.

• Tillage
  Intensive cultivation or mowing for two seasons is required to starve out bladder campion.
  
  Pre-seeding tillage - Control weed seedlings that germinate early in the spring with a shallow tillage
  before or at seeding time.
  
  Fall tillage - Deep cultivation with a disc will sever the weed roots below the crown and leave the plant in a weakened state for winter.
  
  
• Rotation
  Crop rotation will only suppress bladder campion, not eliminate it. Do not put infested fields into perennial forage production, because this weed will proliferate if undisturbed. Cereals offer good competition and allow for post-seeding tillage. Summer fallow is an effective control for this weed, but mowing rather than tillage will lessen the risk of soil erosion. Annual crops cut for greenfeed allow for deep cultivation in spring and fall or can be cut before the main flush of weed seeds are set.
  
  
• Seeding
  Shallow tillage to destroy emerging shoots and seedlings should be done prior to or at seeding. Seed cereals 7.5 cm deep if post-seeding tillage is required. Do not seed other crops on infested land.
  
  
• Mowing
  Repeated mowing of small patches of bladder campion in wastelands and perennial crops is laborious but effective.