Cardinal Catchfly Silene laciniata Cardinal catchfly or southern indian pink’s one to several, 1-2 1/2 ft. stems are slender and weak, often leaning against other vegetation. Showy, brilliant-red, tubular flowers, with five jagged petals, occur at branch ends. Leaves are densely covered with sticky hairs. S. laciniata ssp. major is the form occuring in California. This subspecies has been divided into two varieties: var. angustifolia for plants near the coast and var. latifolia for interior plants. Subspecies greggii occurs in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The flowers attract hummingbirds.