Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria Gardeners' World = 'Blych' (d)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Lychnis coronaria Gardeners' World, commonly known as rose campion, is a striking plant with a distinctive appearance. The most striking feature of this plant is its brilliant magenta flowers, which possess a vivid hue that catches the eye. These vibrant flowers sit atop slender, branched stems that rise above the plant's foliage. Rose campion's flowers are composed of five petals each, creating a simple yet elegant floral display. The foliage of rose campion provides a beautiful contrast to its bright flowers. The leaves are a silvery-green color, with a slightly felted, or hairy, texture that gives them a soft, almost woolly appearance. This greyish-green foliage forms a dense basal clump from which the flowering stems emerge. Rose campion blooms typically appear in the warmer months of the year, providing not only a splash of color but also attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies to the garden. The plant's foliage remains attractive even when it is not in bloom, making it a valuable addition to the garden for its contrasting textures and colors throughout the growing season.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caryophyllaceae.
- Synonyms
  Rose Campion, Crown Pink, Mullein Pink, Bloody William, Dusty Miller, Lamp Flower.
- Common names
  Lychnis coronaria, Silene coronaria.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) is generally not considered toxic to humans. However, as with many plants, individual sensitivities can vary, and ingestion of plant parts is not advisable. There is no significant information regarding the toxicity of this plant to humans, so no symptoms of poisoning or consequences of ingestion are well-documented.
- To pets
  Rose campion is also not known to be toxic to pets. This means that it would generally be considered safe around common household pets, such as dogs and cats. As with humans, although there's a lack of documented toxicity, pet owners should still prevent pets from ingesting plants as a precautionary measure.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Grey-green
- Flower color
  Magenta
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Lychnis coronaria, commonly known as rose campion, is known for attracting bees and butterflies, which are crucial for pollination in the garden.
- Drought Tolerance: Rose campion has good drought tolerance once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping or gardens with low water availability.
- Low Maintenance: This plant is considered low maintenance, as it requires minimal care once it is established in a suitable location.
- Deer Resistance: Rose campion is generally resistant to deer, meaning it is less likely to be damaged or consumed by deer in the garden.
- Ornamental Appeal: With its vibrant magenta flowers and contrasting silvery-gray foliage, rose campion provides a striking visual appeal in ornamental gardens.
- Self-seeding: Rose campion is capable of self-seeding, which can help it to naturalize in the garden and reduce the need for replanting each year.
- Versatility: It can be used in various garden styles, including cottage gardens, borders, and gravel gardens.
- Long Blooming Period: Rose campion often has a long blooming period that extends from early summer to early fall, providing prolonged color in the garden.
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
- Rose Campion's silvery foliage can be used in moon gardens, where its leaves reflect moonlight and create a luminous effect during the night.
- Dried stems and flower heads of Rose Campion can be used in floral arrangements to provide an interesting texture and maintain a touch of natural colour.
- The vibrant flowers can be used as a natural dye source for fabrics, yielding soft pinks and purples depending on the mordant used.
- Rose Campion is sometimes planted in fallow fields to attract beneficial insects and enhance soil health with its deep root system.
- The fine texture of its foliage can be used in sensory gardens, where the plant's soft leaves provide a tactile experience.
- In pet-friendly gardens, Rose Campion provides visual stimulation for pets with its bright flowers without being toxic to them.
- When planted along the edges of a vegetable garden, Rose Campion can act as a trap crop, luring pests away from more valuable plants.
- The plant can be included in educational gardens to demonstrate plant lifecycle, from seed germination to flowering and seed setting.
- Rose Campion can be included in xeriscaping plans for its drought tolerance, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- It can be used as a "living mulch" to suppress weeds due to its dense growth habit once established.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Rose Campion is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Rose Campion is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Beauty in Adversity: Lychnis coronaria, commonly known as rose campion, is known for its striking blooms amidst harsh conditions, symbolizing the ability to find or create beauty in difficult situations.
- Survival: It's a hardy plant that symbolizes endurance and the ability to survive and even thrive in challenging environments.
- Attraction: With its vibrant pink and magenta flowers, rose campion symbolizes an attraction that is pure and captivating, drawing the eye and heart.
- Contrast: The contrast between the softness of its flowers and the silvery foliage symbolizes the union of opposites and the balance between different elements.

💧

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, the common name for Lychnis coronaria 'Gardeners' World', should be watered deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions. In general, watering once a week with one to two gallons per plant should suffice, adjusting for rainfall and temperature conditions that might accelerate the soil drying process. It's important to avoid overwatering, as Rose Campion prefers well-drained soil and can suffer from root rot if left in soggy conditions. During the hot summer months, you may need to water more frequently, but always check the soil moisture level first. Water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry and prevent disease.
Light
Rose Campion thrives in full sun conditions and will perform best when planted in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Partial shade is also acceptable, but the plant's flowering might be less abundant. Remember to avoid overly shaded spots, as this can result in leggy plants and fewer flowers.
Temperature
Rose Campion is tolerant of a wide temperature range and can survive minimum temperatures down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it grows best in temperatures ranging between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme temperatures on either end—over 85 degrees or below 20 degrees—can adversely affect the plant's health and blooming capability.
Pruning
Rose Campion should be pruned to remove dead or spent flowers, which encourages further blooming and maintains its attractive appearance. Perform this pruning throughout the blooming season, which typically occurs in late spring to summer. After flowering, cut the plant back by half to promote healthy new growth and to prevent self-seeding if desired. The best time for major pruning is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Rose Campion prefers well-draining soil with a moderate level of fertility. A mix containing equal parts garden soil, compost, and sharp sand or perlite will provide the necessary drainage and nutrients. Aim for a soil pH that is slightly alkaline, around 7.0 to 7.5, for optimal growth.
Repotting
Rose Campion, being a biennial or short-lived perennial, does not typically require frequent repotting. Repot once every 2-3 years or when it outgrows its current container.
Humidity & Misting
Rose Campion thrives in average humidity levels and does not require any special humidity requirements. It is tolerant of dry conditions once established.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure full sun, well-draining soil, and infrequent water.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil; tolerates drought.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
Rose Campion 'Gardener's World' begins its life cycle as a seed, which when sown in fertile, well-drained soil and with sufficient light, will germinate, typically in spring or early summer. The seedling will develop into a rosette of fuzzy, silver-grey foliage, which is a distinctive feature of the plant. Over the first season, the plant establishes its root system and vegetative growth, preparing to flower in the following season if conditions are suitable. In its second year, Rose Campion 'Gardener's World' produces tall flower stalks that bear vivid magenta blooms, and this flowering stage can continue throughout the summer months. After pollination, the flowers will set seed, completing the reproductive phase of the lifecycle. Once the plant has set seed, it may die back if it is a biennial variety, although 'Gardener's World' has a tendency to behave as a short-lived perennial, potentially regrowing for several seasons if conditions are favorable.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-early summer
- Rose Campion, known botanically as Lychnis coronaria 'Gardener's World', can be propagated most commonly by sowing seeds. The best time to sow seeds is either in spring after the last frost or in autumn before the ground freezes. To propagate by seeds, scatter the seeds on the surface of a well-draining seed starting mix in a tray or pot. Do not cover the seeds with soil as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and place the tray in a warm area with plenty of indirect light. Germination usually occurs within two to three weeks, and once the seedlings are large enough to handle, they can be transplanted into individual pots or directly into the garden at a spacing of about 18 inches (approximately 45 centimeters) apart to allow for mature growth.