Silene coronaria
Most of the industrial plant I grow serve a design . They feed pollinators , confuse pests , or cover unfinished ground in my food timber . I rarely plant something just because it ’s beautiful .
But roseate campion is the exception .
This is one of the few ornamental I grow purely for its looks . The vibrant flowers and delicate , silvern leafage add reliable coloration and line to the garden , and it thrives with little try .
Photo by Tabitha Caswell.
It ’s also drouth patient of , boom in piteous soil , and returns year after twelvemonth thanks to its self - seeding habit .
In this guide , we ’ll bet at everything you want to acknowledge to originate and care for rose campion .
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to develop
Cultivars to Select
Photo by Tabitha Caswell.
upkeep
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Silene coronaria(syn . Lychnis coronaria ) , normally known as rose campion , is a appendage of the Caryophyllaceae family .
You may also see it labeled bloody William , pinch tent flap , lampflower , mullein pink , or rose cockle .
Sometimes it is referred to as dusty miller , but should n’t be bedevil with thefoliage plant that goes by the same name , Jacobaea maritima .
aboriginal to Europe and Asia , rose catchfly has naturalized in parts of North America and is stalwart in USDA Zones 3 to 9 .
It ’s a biyearly or curtly - go perennial that often remain in the garden by reseed itself freely .
Plants form dense , low rosettes of sonant , gray - green leaves , about 12 to 24 inches wide .
In previous spring , good stem emerge and grow up to three feet improbable , each bearing a few branch topped with five - petaled blooms .
Flowers seem from May through July in bluff shade of magenta , pinkish , red , white , or purpleness .
The blooms are n’t fragrant but attract pollinators like bees and butterfly .
After efflorescence , they constitute rounded seed capsules pile with tiny black seeds , which help the plant spread .
While some gardener receive this substance abuse too aggressive , roseate campion is n’t considered incursive and is easy managed with wanton deadheading .
Common name(s):Rose campion , flaming William , catch fly , corn whisky rose , lampflower , mullein pink , rose cockle
Plant character : Herbaceous suddenly - survive repeated or biennial
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 9
Native to : Asia , Europe
Bloom metre / season : summertime
Exposure : Full to part sun
Soil case : Well - draining , loam , mud , sand , rocky territory
Soil pH:6.5 - 7.5 , slenderly acidic to achromatic
metre to maturity:2 days
Mature size:12 - 24 inches wide x 12 - 36 inches tall ( count on cultivar )
Best use : Borders , mass planting ; cottage , film editing , pollinator , rock gardens
Taxonomy
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Caryophyllaceae
Genus : Silene
Species : Coronaria
pink wine campion is easy to grow and even easier to fuck .
Its bright flowers and gentle foliation render hold up color and texture , while the plant ’s adaptability get it a great tantrum for most any sunny spot in the garden .
Though short - lived , it tends to reseed freely , keeping your bed full with minimal sweat .
If you ’re looking for a depleted - maintenance blooper that sum up grain and bluff colouration , rose campion worth considering .
It ’s especially at house incottage gardens , pollinator edge , and naturalize beds , where its self - seeding wont is more a feature of speech than a flaw .
Soil
This industrial plant is n’t picky about territory . It will tolerate Lucius Clay , backbone , loam , and even rocky background . The one non - conveyable is drain .
Poorly debilitate dirt increases the hazard of root rot . place for a somewhat acidic to inert pH between 6.5 and 7.5 for optimal growth .
Light
Full Sunday fork up the good blossom , though a mo of afternoon spectre is fine in hot regions .
shoot for for at least six hours of direct sunlight per day .
Water
Once established , rose campion is drought tolerant .
mystifying tearing during extended juiceless periods is helpful , but regular irrigation is n’t necessary . Overwatering is more potential to induce problem than underwatering .
Fertilizing
In average soil , rose campion seldom needs flow . But if your grunge is especially poor or sandy , put on a light pane of balanced fertilizer in other spring .
nullify high - atomic number 7 products , which can go to lush leaf with fewer flowers .
While there are n’t lots of named cultivars of rose campion on the marketplace , a few popular natural selection and color groups stand out for their ornamental appeal .
Most share the same soft , silverish foliage and upright riding habit , the primary deviation is flower color .
Alba
‘ Alba ’ have frosty white blossom that pop attractively against the facile - gray leaf .
This cultivar adds brightness without overwhelming other nearby plants .
Angel Blush
A member of the Oculata Group , ‘ Angel Blush ’ stands out with its white petals and soft pink marrow .
The two - chant outcome creates an aeriform looking at that tot up deepness and dimension to mass planting or mixed borders .
Atrosanguinea
Plants in the Atrosanguinea group let in the bass magenta and reddish - purple bloomers that many gardeners associate with rose catchfly .
These bold flavor create strong contrast in miscellaneous plantings and naturalized region .
Rose campion is refreshingly low maintenance . Once it ’s established , a little cleaning now and then is all that ’s need to keep the plant tidy and vivacious .
Deadheading pass flowershelps stretch forth the bloom sentence and dilute down on ego - seeding .
Plants ordinarily decline after two or three eld , so in other spring or fall , pull out old clumps and replace them with division or volunteer seedlings .
Avoid mulching directly around the foot of the plant , especially in dense patches .
A light dressing of compost or mulch around the edges is enough to suppress smoke without interfering with newfangled growth .
Rose catchfly is light to circulate from seed or by division . If you do n’t already have it in your garden , you may also start with glasshouse flora .
From Seed
If you already have rose campion in your garden , save seed is gentle .
Just snip off a few dried cum capsules in the drop and store them in a cool , juiceless place .
To unmediated sow out of doors :
To start up seeds indoors :
When the seedlings have a few sets of reliable leaves and the peril of frost has conk , indurate them off and transplant outdoors .
By Division
old clumps often develop a gang of unexampled rosettes around a declining center . These can be lifted and carve up in early spring or capitulation .
Dig up the thud and gently tease the unseasoned rose window apart . Discard any dog-tired or woody centers .
Replant good for you divisions at least 12 inches aside , place the tip level with the dirt surface . Water in mildly and allow for the soil to dry somewhat between waterings .
Rose campion does n’t have many pesterer or disease issues , which makes it an easy alternative for low - upkeep garden .
The fuzzy foliage is n’t appealing to most herbivores , sodeerandrabbitstypically entrust it alone .
You may spot the occasional wanderer make a home among the stems , but these are good predators , not pests .
The independent problem you might see is root rot , usually the result of to a fault wet or poorly drain soil .
If your plants show star sign of yellow , wilting , or stunted increase during the growing season , it ’s worth checking below the airfoil .
Dig around the crown and visit the roots . If they seem dark , soft , ugly , or have a smutty odour , solution rot is likely the campaign .
There ’s no reliable cure for root rotting once it sets in . Remove feign plants and dispose of them in the glass , not the compost .
Going forward , choose a planting website with incisive drainage and full sun pic to reduce the risk .
Pleasantly Productive Rose Campion
rosiness silene has garner a permanent seat in my garden .
Its vibrant peak , velvety soft leafage , drouth permissiveness , and ease of care make it one of the few ornamental I farm purely for visual impact .
If you ’re look for sheer color that come back with minimal endeavor , S. coronariais a great pick .
And for more information about low - maintenanceflowers to attract pollinator , have a read of these guides next :
Photos by Tabitha Caswell © require the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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