Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea Group

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The plant known as Rose Campion is adorned with strikingly vibrant magenta flowers, which exhibit a luminous quality against the grayish-green backdrop of the foliage. Its leaves are felt-like, lending a soft, hairy texture, which adds a layer of visual and tactile interest. The color contrast between the deep rose of the flowers and the foliage is one of its most distinctive features, making the plant a visually appealing choice for gardens. With its silvery foliage and jewel-toned flowers, Rose Campion provides a unique color palette that can complement a variety of garden designs. The blossoms of the plant have a classic, simple shape, often with a slightly ruffled appearance, adding to its overall charm. Each individual flower consists of five rounded petals that radiate from a central point, resembling a small, delicate crown. The plant typically blooms during the warmer months, adding a burst of color when many other plants are at their peak.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae
- Synonyms
  Rose Campion, Bloody William, Dusty Miller, Mullein-Pink
- Common names
  Silene coronaria (L.) Clairv., Lychnis coronaria (L.) Desr.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The plant commonly known as Rose Campion is not widely recognized as toxic to humans. However, even though it may not contain significant toxins, it is always prudent to avoid ingesting plants that are not specifically intended for human consumption, as they may cause mild stomach upset or an allergic reaction in some individuals.
- To pets
  Rose Campion is also not known to be toxic to pets. While it likely isn't harmful, if a pet were to ingest a large amount of the plant, they might experience mild gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting or diarrhea, due to the irritation of the plant material, rather than toxicity. Always monitor your pet's behavior and consult with a veterinarian if you suspect they have ingested any plant material that is causing them discomfort or illness.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Grey-green
- Flower color
  Red
- Height
  2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Low Maintenance: The plant is known for being easy to care for and does not require frequent watering or fertilizing.
- Drought Tolerant: It can survive in dry conditions, making it suitable for xeriscaping or gardens in arid climates.
- Attracts Pollinators: With its bright flowers, it attracts bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for plant pollination and biodiversity.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The plant's vivid flowers add splashes of color to gardens, enhancing visual interest and curb appeal.
- Deer Resistant: It's known to be relatively resistant to grazing by deer, which can be an advantage in areas where deer are a common garden pest.
- Easy Propagation: It can be easily propagated through seeds or division, allowing gardeners to spread the plant throughout their garden or share with others.
- Long Blooming: This plant has a long blooming period from early to late summer, which ensures a colorful garden for an extended time.
- Versatile: It can be used in various garden designs, including perennial borders, rock gardens, and cottage gardens.
- Good Cut Flowers: The flowers can be used in fresh floral arrangements, adding beauty indoors as well as out.
- Non-Invasive: Unlike some other garden plants, it does not have a tendency to spread uncontrollably, making it easier to manage in a garden setting.
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
- The Rose Campion's silvery foliage can be used as a contrasting element in floral arrangements, providing a unique backdrop for more colorful flowers.
- Dried seed heads from the Rose Campion can be used in craft projects or as ornamental features in dried floral displays due to their unique shape and texture.
- The Rose Campion's bright flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making it a valuable addition to pollinator gardens.
- The vivid coloring of Rose Campion flowers can be used as natural indicators for pH levels in educational science experiments, changing color in different soil types.
- When used in a sensory garden, the Rose Campion's soft, fuzzy leaves provide a tactile experience for visitors, especially those with visual impairments.
- Gardeners can use Rose Campion as a "spiller" plant in container gardening, allowing its vibrant flowers to spill over the edges for a dramatic effect.
- Due to its drought resistance, Rose Campion can be used in xeriscaping, which conserves water in landscaping.
- Its ability to self-seed makes Rose Campion a sustainable option for gardeners looking to have long-lasting blooms without replanting each year.
- The vibrant petals of Rose Campion can be used in art projects, such as pressed flower crafts, card making, or bookmarks.
- In literature and poetry, the striking appearance of Rose Campion may be used symbolically to represent passion or contrast against themes of mortality and change.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Rose Campion is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Rose Campion is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Attraction: The Lychnis coronaria, commonly known as Rose Campion, is known for its vibrant magenta flowers which symbolize an attraction that is impossible to ignore, just like the flower's striking appearance.
- Admiration: Rose Campion's bold color and unique texture can symbolize admiration for something that stands out from the rest, much like the admiration one may feel for a person or achievement that is particularly noteworthy.
- Consolation: In some traditions, giving someone a Rose Campion can be a way of offering solace or consolation, as the plant's bright presence may bring light to a gloomy situation.
- Endurance: Rose Campion is a hardy plant that can tolerate drought and poor soil conditions, hence it can symbolize endurance and the ability to thrive in challenging environments.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Rose Campion should be watered deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth, ensuring it gets enough moisture without becoming waterlogged. During active growth in the spring and summer, watering once a week with approximately 1 inch of water, or approximately 0.6 gallons per square yard, is generally sufficient. However, it's important to adjust watering based on rainfall and the specific soil conditions. In hotter, drier periods, you may need to water twice a week, while in cooler, moist conditions, watering may be reduced. Always allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot.
Light
Rose Campion thrives in full sun to partial shade. For the healthiest growth and best flowering, plant it in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. An ideal spot would offer morning sunlight and some afternoon shade, especially in regions with hot summers, to help reduce stress on the plant.
Temperature
Rose Campion is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, but it grows best in areas where the temperature consistently stays between 60°F and 80°F. It can survive minimum temperatures down to around 20°F and maximum temperatures up to around 90°F. However, extreme temperatures on either end can stress the plant, so providing some protection during unseasonal temperature spikes or drops is beneficial.
Pruning
Prune Rose Campion to maintain its shape and encourage new growth. After the first bloom, cut back the flower stalks by about one-third to promote a second bloom. In late fall or early winter, once the plant has died back, prune dead foliage to the ground. Pruning can be done annually or as needed to remove spent blooms and tidy up the plant's appearance.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Rose Campion thrives in well-draining soil with a pH ranging from neutral to slightly alkaline. The ideal soil mix can be created by combining garden soil, sand, and compost in equal parts. This ensures both good drainage and adequate fertility. Regular garden soil can be amended with perlite or horticultural grit to improve drainage if it is too compact.
Repotting
Rose Campion is typically not repotted often, as it is a biennial or short-lived perennial. Transplanting is usually only necessary if it outgrows its current space or to manage its self-seeding tendency. Dividing the plant every few years can rejuvenate its growth.
Humidity & Misting
Rose Campion prefers average to low humidity conditions. It tolerates dry air well, making it suitable for growth in most climates without the need for additional humidity adjustments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Provide bright light, minimal water, and avoid high humidity.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil.
- Hardiness zone
  4-8 USDA
Life cycle
Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea Group) begins its life cycle as a seed, which, when sown in spring or autumn, germinates in a few weeks if conditions are favorable. The seedlings develop into rosettes of silver-gray, woolly foliage, which form a basal cluster. In the following growing season, typically its second year, Rose Campion sends up tall flowering stalks that may reach up to 2-3 feet in height, bearing vivid magenta flowers. These flowers bloom from early to late summer, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. After the flowering period, the plant sets seeds, which can self-sow in the garden, creating new plants for the next season. Rose Campion is a short-lived perennial or biennial; after it sets seed, the plant usually dies, but due to self-sowing, it often persists in the garden as if it were a perennial.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method to propagate Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea Group) is through seed starting. Sow the seeds in late winter to early spring, sprinkling them on top of a well-draining seed starting mix and lightly pressing them into the soil, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist but not wet, and maintain a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (about 21 degrees Celsius). Germination typically occurs within two to three weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, usually when they have a couple of true leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots and grown on until they are strong enough to be planted out in the garden after the risk of frost has passed.