Rose Campion Silene coronaria

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.