Growing Rose Campions

Rose campion, Lychnis coronaria, is a favorite perennial in the old fashioned cottage or country flower garden. The pretty magenta flowers bloom atop silver-green wooly stems. Their fuzzy oval leaves add to the attractiveness of the plant, as well. Adding rose campions to the cottage flower garden or the country herb garden will lend texture as well as brilliant color to the area.

How to Grown Rose Campions

Rose campions are grown as a perennial/biennial in zones 4-8. This plant does best in average soil. Rose campions grow well in partial shade and full sun. They are grown from seed and division of the fibrous-rooted crowns. The seeds are best scattered across the bare ground in the summer through late fall. The plants will also self-seed if the flowers are left alone. They grow to a height of approximately 24-36 inches. They will also transplant well and will grow in containers.

The first season, the plant will be small and will not bloom. Only the fuzzy silver green foliage will appear. By the second season the plants will bloom their simple and beautiful magenta flowers. Rose campions are considered a spring blooming plant, but will sometimes bloom through early summer.

Maintaining Rose Campions

Rose campions are considered a short-lived perennial. Some plants will live for years, others only for two seasons. Keeping the fibrous roots divided every two years should add to the individual plant’s longevity.

Once established in the cottage or country garden, rose campions should continue spreading across the area, adding their beautiful bursts of color to the landscape. Any unwanted plants are easily dug and transplanted elsewhere in the garden.

In the Southern Garden

While rose campions seems almost immune to the high humidity of the south, direct sunlight, especially in the hottest part of the day, is detrimental to the plant and will sometimes burn the foliage. So for southern gardens, these old fashioned favorites are best grown in partial to medium shade.

Rose campions grown in medium shade will sometimes bloom throughout the summer and into the fall. They will also tolerate the clay soil so prevalent throughout the southern states.

It is best to note that at the end of a very hot and humid day, rose campions tend to have a wilted look to them, but will soon spring back as the sun goes down and the evening cools.

In the Herb Garden

For a beautiful surge of color in the shady herb garden, plant rose campions among partial shade herbs, such as rosemary and thyme. The bright magenta blooms will add a special touch to the mostly green section of the herb garden.

Rose Campion Lore

Old names for this plant include, tame mullion, rose of Mary, and rose of heaven. It is also believed that rose campion was used in the treating of scorpion stings in early Europe.

Sources:

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening and Landscaping Techniques, Barbara W. Ellis, Editor. Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1990.