A Brief Guide to Caring for Rose Campion Plants

Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria or Silene coronaria) is a short-lived perennial or biennial of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae) of plants, also known as the carnation family. Native to southeastern Europe, this deer-resistant plant has long, silver-gray stems that boast woolly leaves and vibrant flowers of various hues, including magenta, pink, red, and white. The rose campion commonly appears in old-fashioned cottage gardens due to its unruly nature.

In Greek, the genus name Lychnis means lamp. Back in ancient times, people used the rose campion’s fuzzy leaves to make lamp wicks. The leaves look similar to those of lamb’s ear—a species of plant in the mint family. Additionally, the term “campion” comes from the tradition of using the plant’s vibrant flowers to make garlands and crowns for athletic champions. To this day, the plant’s most common nicknames are lamp flower and crown pink, among others like dusty miller—a nod to rose campion’s silver foliage.

Horticulturists have developed several variations of the rose campion plant. These variations, also known as cultivars, produce different flower colors and have varying growth habits. Here are some of the plant’s most popular cultivars:

1. 1. ‘Alba’: The cultivar Lychnis coronaria ‘Alba’ and the plant Silene latifolia, subspecies alba, are both types of campion that produce white flowers and go by the common name white campion.
2. 2. ‘Angel’s Blush’: This cultivar, also known as ‘Angel Blush,’ produces campion plants that have white flowers with a pink tint at their centers.
3. 3. ‘Atrosanguinea’: This cultivar produces bright, magenta flowers that present a striking contrast against its silvery, light-colored stems and leaves.
4. 4. ‘Oculata’: This cultivar of rose campion has a pink or red center and white petals.

Rose campion can be a low-maintenance addition to any garden, capable of providing beautiful blooms and luscious foliage. The plant can survive winters in USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8. When you’re caring for a rose campion plant, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Plant in bright light. The rose campion plant thrives in full sun. While the plant can survive in partial shade, it will inevitably produce fewer blooms than if you had planted it in direct sunlight.
• Deadhead regularly. Rose campion flowers peak in late spring or early summer. Deadheading—the process of manually removing dead flowers—will prompt the plant to produce another wave of blooms. Continue to deadhead the flowers daily during the plant’s bloom time. Once flower production begins to wane later in the season, leave the remaining flowers to grow seeds for the plant’s self-propagation.
• Water sparingly. The rose campion plant prefers dry soil and can even survive in rock gardens. Natural rainfall will likely fulfill the plant’s water needs, but if your garden experiences an extended drought, it’s best to water the rose campion plant slowly, allowing the moisture to reach the roots. While the plant is drought-tolerant and prefers poorer soil conditions, it thrives in high-humidity environments. If your rose campion serves as a houseplant, use a humidifier to re-create summer’s natural humidity levels.

The rose campion is a short-lived perennial—meaning the plant won’t fully bloom until its second year and will die shortly thereafter. This makes pruning particularly important in the plant’s first year. To ensure plentiful blooms in year two, prune back your rose campion plant to one-third of its size in late fall or early winter. Cutting the stems, which can grow four feet tall, will encourage the plant to produce more flowers the following year.

Thanks to the plant’s self-seeding capabilities, you’ll see the rose campion’s signature silver foliage pop up year after year in your garden. When left alone, the plant’s dead flowers grow seeds. Those seeds will eventually fall to the ground and self-sow. You can assist in this process by removing any mulch around the plant. To prevent a full garden takeover, simply thin the seedlings out in the spring. Replant these seedlings elsewhere in your garden if you wish.

To control your plant’s propagation rather than allow it to self-seed, you’ll want to collect the tiny black seeds and plant them immediately. The seed needs approximately three weeks in cold, moist soil to germinate the following spring.

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