Silene uniflora ssp thorei

Perennial from the Caryophyllaceae family, endemic to the Atlantic coasts of southwestern France and the north of the Iberian Peninsula, mainly the Landes and the Basque Country. Its exact taxonomic status, as a subspecies of Silene uniflora or a species in its own right, varies according to the consulted floras.

It colonizes fixed coastal dunes, coastal sands, and short grasslands by the sea, in full sun exposure and in very poor and draining soil. It forms low and spreading clumps, distinctly prostrate, with branched stems bearing dark green foliage, quite broad and fleshy for the genus, with oval leaves clearly visible here.

The flowers are white, small, with petals slightly or not fringed, borne above swollen and globular calyxes, remarkably voluminous compared to the size of the flowers, of a very pale green to yellowish hue. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July.

In cultivation, it requires perfect drainage, poor sandy soil, and a sunny exposure. It is suitable for rock gardens and alpine troughs, but remains an uncommon plant in horticulture, more present in specialized collections than in general commerce.