Royal Catchfly

Royal Catchfly is a showstopper in the summer garden, with brilliant scarlet flowers that are nearly invisible to most insects but irresistible to hummingbirds. This clever strategy ensures that its nectar is reserved for its primary pollinators - hummingbirds and a few butterflies - making it one of the best native choices for attracting these aerial acrobats.

Though it isn’t a fast spreader, Royal Catchfly rewards patience. Its taproot anchors it deeply, making it drought-tolerant once established but difficult to divide. You can encourage it to gently self-sow by clearing mulch from around the base of mature plants after flowering. Its tall, slender stems often benefit from neighboring support to remain upright in open plantings.

Why Choose Royal Catchfly?

• Brilliant red blooms evolved to attract hummingbirds
• Blooms in midsummer when other reds are scarce
• Drought-tolerant and long-lived once established
• Offers unique vertical color in prairie-style gardens
• Rare and ecologically important in parts of its native range
  

• May benefit from staking if stalks become floppy
• Be careful not to transplant once established
• Allow Royal Catchfly to self-propagate by clearing away debris from base after flowering period to allow seeds to take root.