Lychnis coronaria
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ROSE CAMPION
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Pronounced: loo-PIH-nus
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
S.E. Europe.
Plant Group:
Biennial.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: All.
USDA zones: 4-8.
Mature size:
Height: 32 inches (80 cm). | Width 18 inches (45 cm).
Flowering period:
Late summer.
Flowering attributes:
Purple to purple-red round flowers on long stalks make it perfect as a cut flower.
Leaf attributes:
Silvery-gray, woolly leaves that are soft to the touch.
Growth habit:
Biennial or short-lived perennial.
Light:
Full sun to partial shade.
Soil:
Fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil is best, but they grow in clay soil that is perpetually soggy in winter.
Feeding:
Add a complete organic fertilizer when planting.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed as soon as ripe or in spring 60-65ºF (15-18° C). These will self seed quite freely, so once planted there should be a steady supply of volunteers.
Pruning Methods:
Dead head spent flowers to keep the plant flowering.
Rainy Side Notes
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On the right side of the image, you can see a stand of Lychnis coronaria 'Alba'. It seeds true every year, although I do not have another variety like the Rose campion (top most photo) in the garden for it to cross with, so it keeps its white flowers. It is considered a perennial, yet most gardeners treat it as a short-lived perennial or biennial.
Lychnis comes from the Greek word, lychnos, which means lamp.
Lychnis coronaria can be grown as a cut flower. Harvest the stems when one or two flowers are open, or pull the entire plant and strip the foliage off. The flowers will last between five to seven days in a vase.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
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