Lampflower Silene coronaria
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Agrostemma coronaria
- Coronaria coriacea
- Lychnis coronaria
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-LEE-nee kor-oh-NAIR-ee-ah
- Description
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Rose Campion is a very distinctive biennial or short-lived perennial that has very tall stems and is entirely covered with white wooly hairs. It has bright magenta-colored flowers, and its foliage is an unusual silvery green. The plant is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family that includes carnations and pinks.
It is native to central and southeastern Europe to Northern Iran and Central Asia to the Western Himalayas. It is summer flowering and is found along roadsides, fields, clearings, or rocky areas. Rose Campion has been introduced to portions of the United States. Reportedly, it has been seen scattered in parts of the low Mountains to the Coastal Plains of North Carolina.
The genus name, Silene, is derived from "catchfly" or "campion." The plants in this genus have tiny sticky hairs that discourage ants and other insects from eating the plant. The species name, coronaria, is Latin and means "used for garlands."
Rose Champion tolerates various soil types as long as they are well-drained. It is drought tolerant and does well in rock or crevice gardens. It prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. Deer are not attracted to this plant due to the wooly foliage. The flowers are unscented; however, the flowers' nectar is enjoyed by butterflies and bees. Deadheading the spent blooms will encourage continuous flowering. Rose campion may be propagated by seeds and basal cuttings. The plant self-seeds and has the potential to become invasive.
The plant has an upright habit and a slender to stout taproot. The tall stems and silvery-green, lance-shaped foliage are covered densely with wooly hairs. In mild climates, the plant may remain evergreen. The five-petaled bright magenta flowers are about 1 inch in diameter. There are cultivars available that have flowers in shades of white, rose, or pink. The flower is followed by a seed capsule after summer blooming.
The interesting combination of the bright flower color and silvery-green foliage will add interest and contrast to a cottage garden, pollinator garden, rock garden, or border.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Summer Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- the entire plant is covered with wooly hairs
- grayish-green, stout, erect stems with white wooly hair and measures 16 to 40 inches tall
- basal and stem leaves are grayish to silvery green and covered with dense grayish-white hairs
- purplish-pink 1-inch flowers with 5 petals that appear floppy and partially overlap
- 0.5-inch tan colored fruit capsule that opens with 5 teeth and contains many tiny kidney-shaped seeds
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Rose campion is generally insect and disease-free; however, slugs may be problematic.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Rock Stream Garden Flower Bonanza Garden Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘Abbotsford Rose’
Rose colored flowers - ‘Alba’
White flowers - 'Angel Blush'
White flowers with pink blush - 'Atrosanguinea'
Light foliage and deep magenta flowers - 'Dancing Ladies'
White and carmine flowers with a dark eye - 'Flora Plena'
Double flowered - 'Oculata'
White flowers with a pink or red eye
- ‘Abbotsford Rose’
- ‘Abbotsford Rose’, ‘Alba’, 'Angel Blush', 'Atrosanguinea', 'Dancing Ladies', 'Flora Plena', 'Oculata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Abbotsford Rose’
Rose colored flowers - ‘Alba’
White flowers - 'Angel Blush'
White flowers with pink blush - 'Atrosanguinea'
Light foliage and deep magenta flowers - 'Dancing Ladies'
White and carmine flowers with a dark eye - 'Flora Plena'
Double flowered - 'Oculata'
White flowers with a pink or red eye
- ‘Abbotsford Rose’
- ‘Abbotsford Rose’, ‘Alba’, 'Angel Blush', 'Atrosanguinea', 'Dancing Ladies', 'Flora Plena', 'Oculata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Silene
- Species:
- coronaria
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It is thought that the wooly leaves were used as lamp wicks in ancient times. The flowers were also used as garlands for athletic champions.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Central & Southeast Europe to Northern Iran, Central Asia
- Distribution:
- Native: East Central Southeast Europe to Northern Iran and Central Asia to Western Himalaya--Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Hungry, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Krym, Romania, Tadzhikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, West Himalaya, and Yugoslavia. Introduced: Algeria, Assam, Austria, Brazil South, British Columbia, Central European Russia, Chile Central, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Morocco, New Brunswick, New South Wales, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Portugal, Quebec, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States--Al, AR, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, KY LA, MD, MA, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, and WI
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are pollinated by butterflies and bees. Deer tend to avoid this plant due to its densely hairy foliage.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The flowers are followed by seed capsules that are ellipsoid to ovoid-shaped and measure 0.5 inches long. The opening of the capsule has 5 teeth. Inside the capsule are many tiny kidney-shaped seeds that measure less than 1.5 mm in length. The plant reseeds itself.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower measures 1 to 1.25 inches in diameter and may appear solitary or possibly as 2 or 3 blooms in a group. They have 5 reddish purple, pink, or white petals that are obovate-orbicular in shape. The petal margins are irregular and slightly notched. The petals appear floppy and partially overlap. There is whitish-green calyx that measures 0.75 inches long and is densely covered with white-wooly hairs. There are 10 stamens and an ovary with 5 styles. The flower stalk measures 0.5 to 6 inches long and has white-wooly hairs.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves are inverted, lanceolate, and spoon-shaped with tufts of dense white hairs and have entire margins. They measure 3 to 5 inches long and 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide. The basal leaves are grayish to silvery green. There are 5 to 10 pairs of stem leaves that appear opposite and are covered in dense, silky, grayish-white velvety hairs. They measure 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide and gradually become smaller as they ascend the stem. The stem leaves are also grayish to silvery green. The basal and stem leaves have a stiff leathery texture.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The plant has several erect and distally branched stout stems. They are grayish-green to white, stout, and covered with dense white wooly hairs. They measure from 16 inches to 40 inches in height.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived