Red campion Silene dioica 'Firefly' (PBR) (d)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Silene dioica 'Firefly' (PBR), commonly known as Red Campion, is a striking herbaceous plant that showcases a vibrant combination of foliage and blossoms. The leaves of Red Campion are typically lush green, ovate to lance-shaped, and form a low-growing rosette at the base. As the growing season progresses, the plant produces taller stems that are adorned with opposite leaves, creating a sense of lush, verdant growth. The most striking feature of Red Campion is its flowers. Each stem supports a cluster of blooms that are typically a vivid pink to magenta color, sometimes with a lighter center or deeper veins that add depth and contrast to the petals. The flowers are dioecious, meaning individual plants bear either male or female flowers. The blooms are composed of five petals that are notched deeply, giving them a jagged appearance that resembles a crown. They exude a subtle charm and are known to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies to the garden. When Red Campion is in full bloom, it brings a splash of bright color to garden spaces, blending beautifully with other plants and serving as an attractive backdrop for border plantings. Its showy flowers and attractive foliage contribute to its popularity among garden enthusiasts.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Red Campion, Red Catchfly
- Common names
  Silene dioica 'Firefly' (PBR) (d).
Toxicity
- To humans
  Red campion (Silene dioica 'Firefly') is not commonly known to be toxic to humans. Given its typical use as an ornamental plant, there is limited information about severe toxicity or poisoning symptoms from ingestion. However, as with any plant, sensitivity varies from person to person and ingesting plant material that isn't typically consumed could potentially cause stomach upset or an allergic reaction. If any part of the plant is ingested and adverse symptoms occur, it is advised to consult a healthcare provider.
- To pets
  Red campion (Silene dioica 'Firefly') is not widely recognized as a toxic plant for pets. However, as with humans, individual pets can have varying levels of sensitivity, and the ingestion of non-food plants can sometimes cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. If your pet ingests part of this plant and displays signs of distress or illness, you should contact a veterinarian for advice tailored to your specific situation.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Spread
  1 foot (30 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: Silene dioica 'Firefly' is known to attract bees and other pollinating insects, which are vital for the pollination of many plants.
- Aesthetic appeal: With its beautiful pink flowers, this plant adds vibrant color and visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
- Wildlife habitat: The plant can provide shelter and nesting sites for various species of wildlife, promoting biodiversity.
- Erosion control: The root system of Silene dioica 'Firefly' can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
- Low maintenance: It is a hardy plant that requires minimal care once established, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, it has moderate drought tolerance, which is beneficial in areas with water restrictions or dry climate conditions.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Silene dioica, also known as Red Campion, can be used in storytelling or myth-based educational programs, as it is associated with old folklore and can add an interesting element to environmental education.
- In arts and crafts, the vibrant pink flowers of Red Campion can be used to make natural dyes for fabric or paper, presenting an eco-friendly coloring option.
- Red Campion might serve as a muse for photographers and painters due to its striking appearance, providing inspiration for artwork and nature photography.
- The plant can be used in citizen science projects, such as tracking the effects of climate change on flowering times in different regions.
- Gardeners practicing companion planting use Red Campion to attract beneficial insects that might help control pests on nearby vegetable crops.
- During ecological restoration projects, Red Campion can be introduced to help stabilize soil, preventing erosion in areas with loose substrate.
- In nocturnal wildlife gardens, the light-reflecting petals of Red Campion can help attract night-flying insects, supporting the local ecosystem.
- Used in floral arrangements, Red Campion's blooms add a pop of color and a wildflower aesthetic to bouquets and decorations.
- The seeds of Red Campion can be used in seed bombing activities, helping to spontaneously introduce native plant species into urban or disturbed environments.
- Red Campion can be planted in large public landscaping projects to create visually appealing green spaces while supporting biodiversity.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Red Campion is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Red Campion is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Attraction: The 'Firefly' variety of Silene dioica, commonly known as Red Campion, has vibrant, eye-catching colors that symbolize attraction and allure in the plant world.
- Cherishing Stealth: With silene being a genus often found in secretive nooks and well-hidden crannies of the landscape, it can represent the beauty in cherishing stealth and discreetness.
- Youthful Innocence: The fresh and delicate appearance of the Red Campion blossoms are often associated with the innocence and joy of youth.
- Compassion: In the language of flowers, campion plants sometimes signify compassion and a caring nature.
- Balance: As Silene dioica is dioecious, with separate male and female plants, it may also symbolize balance and the harmonious union of opposites.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Red Campion or Silene dioica 'Firefly' prefers consistent moisture, so water it thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. In general, this might translate to watering once every week, but frequency should be adjusted depending on weather conditions and soil type. During the growing season, aim to provide at least one gallon of water per plant, ensuring you are watering deeply enough to reach the roots. In hot or windy conditions, more frequent watering may be necessary, while in cooler or rainy periods, less water is needed. It’s crucial to avoid waterlogging, so make sure the soil drains well to prevent root rot.
Light
For the Red Campion, partial shade to full sun is ideal. Choose a spot where the plant can receive morning sunlight and some afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Thriving in a range of light conditions, the Red Campion can also tolerate full sun in cooler climates, but in warmer areas, too much direct sunlight could scorch the leaves.
Temperature
The Red Campion is fairly hardy, tolerating a temperature range from around 25°F to 80°F. It is important to protect it from extreme cold; hence, in areas with harsh winters, provide some form of frost protection, such as mulch. The ideal temperatures for this plant are between 60°F and 70°F, which promote optimal growth and flowering.
Pruning
Pruning the Red Campion helps to maintain its shape and encourages more blooms. Cut back the plant after the first flush of flowers to encourage a second bloom period. Pruning can be done once or twice a year, usually in late summer or early fall. For best results, remove spent blooms and about a third of the plant's height to promote healthy new growth.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Red Campion (Silene dioica 'Firefly') thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH, ideally between 6.0 and 7.5. A mix of garden loam, compost, and a bit of sand to improve drainage forms the best soil for this plant.
Repotting
Red Campion generally doesn't require frequent repotting and can be left undisturbed for several years, as it prefers to be root-bound. However, repotting every 3-4 years in spring can rejuvenate its growth.
Humidity & Misting
Red Campion is adaptable to a wide range of humidity levels but prefers moderate conditions. Ensuring good air circulation around the plant will help maintain the ideal humidity level, which doesn't have to be strictly controlled.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Red Campion in bright, indirect light indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant Red Campion in partial shade outside.
- Hardiness zone
  4-8 USDA
Life cycle
Silene dioica 'Firefly' (PBR) (d), commonly known as Red Campion 'Firefly', commences its life cycle with seed germination, typically in the early spring, where warmth and moisture trigger the growth of the plant seedlings. After germination, the seedlings develop into juvenile plants, establishing a rosette of leaves and a strong root system. As the plant matures, it enters the vegetative stage, characterized by the growth of foliage and stems, during which it can also spread vegetatively through rhizomes. The flowering stage follows, usually in late spring to early summer, where Silene dioica 'Firefly' produces vibrant pink flowers that are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are on separate plants; this is critical for cross-pollination, often aided by insects. Once pollinated, the flowers develop into capsules containing numerous small seeds that are dispersed by wind or animal movement, ensuring the propagation of new plants. Finally, as an herbaceous perennial, after setting seed, the plant may die back in late autumn to overwinter, completing the annual aspect of its cycle, and will re-emerge the following spring to repeat the process.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: Silene dioica 'Firefly', commonly known as Red Campion, is typically propagated by seed. The most popular method of propagation for this perennial plant involves sowing the seeds either in early spring or in fall, as soon as the seeds are mature. You would sow the seeds in a well-drained, open soil mix, lightly covering them with soil. To maintain an ideal environment for germination, it is important to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Germination can be expected within two to three weeks at temperatures between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 degrees Celsius). Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, they should be transplanted into individual pots and later moved to their final position in the garden once they are well established and the risk of frost has passed.