Silene dioica
Red Campion
Common names: Red Catchfly, Day Campion
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Pot size
- from 10 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- May–Aug
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −30 °C
- Water need
- Medium
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Red Campion, botanically Silene dioica, is a native perennial wildflower that grows at woodland edges, in hedgerows, on stream banks, and in fresh meadows. From May to August, bright rose-red flowers open on branched stems 40 to 80 cm tall, with five deeply notched petals. The leaves are softly hairy. The plant is dioecious: male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and only the female plants form seed capsules. Bumblebees, bees, and butterflies visit the flowers. In the garden, it suits the edge of woody planting, naturalistic gardens, and borders and meadows. It grows well alongside cranesbill and grasses. Expect it to live only a few years, but to self-sow abundantly during that time. For meadows and wildflower borders, use regional seed.
Care instructions
Plant Red Campion in spring or autumn in a partly shaded spot with fresh, humus-rich soil. It can take a sunny position only if the soil stays moist. Keep about 35 to 40 cm between plants. Water during long dry periods, especially in sun. After the main flowering in July, cut the plant back to about 15 cm. It will then regrow fresh and often flower again. If you leave some seed heads standing, the plant will self-sow. Remove surplus seedlings in spring. After a few years the plant declines, and seedlings replace the older plants. Common mistakes are waterlogging, especially in winter, and a dry, hot site where the plant struggles.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–May, Sep
FloweringMay–Aug
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 8 °C, ideally 15 °C
- Days to sprout
- 10 to 28 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, loamy, nutrient-rich, well-drained
The red campion grows in fresh, humus-rich, nutrient-rich soil, as offered by woodland edges, hedges, stream banks and fertile meadows. Loamy, loose soil that holds water yet stays free-draining is ideal. It must not dry out completely in summer, and it does not tolerate waterlogging, especially not in winter. A little mature compost at planting gives it a good start.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Apr
In spring, when the plant starts into growth, spread a thin layer of mature compost around it. It needs no more than that in the bed; too much fertiliser makes it soft and susceptible. In a container, replace the top layer of soil with fresh, humus-rich soil every spring.
Overwintering
The red campion is completely hardy and needs no protection. Its leaf rosettes often stay green over winter. In a container, place the pot against a sheltered house wall, raise it on feet so that no water stands, and protect the root ball in hard frost with horticultural fleece or hessian.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Division
The easiest way to propagate red campion is by sowing. From March to May or in September, sow the fine seeds in pots or in the bed, press them in only and cover them at most with a wafer-thin layer of soil. At about 20 °C and even moisture they usually germinate within a few weeks. You can divide older plants in spring or autumn. Because the plant is dioecious, only female plants form seed. In the garden it readily self-seeds; simply pull out surplus seedlings.
For your garden
Grow Red Campion yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
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