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Details
This species is an old favorite of gardeners; even Thomas Jefferson grew them in his gardens, and gave the earliest American citation of the plant in 1767. Rose Campion has silver-grey woolly rosette foliage. Its branching stalks produce quarter-sized white flowers with a pink blush in the center. Rose Campion can be grown as a border plant or as part of a mixed perennial display. This tough plant is suitable for problem areas, tolerating full sun and sandy, drought-prone soils. Reseeds freely.
The thick woolly leaves of this species were once used as lamp wicks, which contributed to its Genus name—Lychnis—from the Greek word, lychnos, meaning lamp. In addition, the flowers glowed like flames of fire. Because the lively blossoms of the species flowered on his feast day, Christians dedicated the plant to John the Baptist. They were reminded of the Bible verse—Luke 1:79—"to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." It is believed the epithet coronaria, comes from its meaning crown; however, it could be a derivative of the French word, campagne, which means country.
Michigan Seeds and Plants grown on our farm, Renegade Acres, in Howell, MI!
Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.
Additional Info
| Botanical Name | Lychnis coronaria |
|---|---|
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Min. Time to Germinate | 21 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate | 30 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds | Surface Sow; press seeds gently into the soil to make good contact, but do not cover with any additional soil; these seeds require light to germinate |
| When to Sow | Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height | 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Plant Spacing | 12-15 in. (30-38 cm) |
| Hardiness | USDA Zone 3a: to -35F, USDA Zone 3b: to -30F, USDA Zone 4a: to -25F, USDA Zone 4b: to -20F, USDA Zone 5a: to -15F, USDA Zone 5b: to -10F, USDA Zone 6a: to -5F, USDA Zone 6b: to 0F, USDA Zone 7a: to 5F, USDA Zone 7b: to 10F, USDA Zone 8a: to 15F, USDA Zone 8b: to 20F, USDA Zone 9a: to 25F, USDA Zone 9b: to 30F |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Sun to Partial Shade |
| Danger | Pollen may cause allergic reaction |
| Bloom Color | Pale Pink, White/Near White |
| Bloom Time | Mid-Summer |
| Foliage | Velvet/Fuzzy-Textured |
| Other Details | Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater, Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping, This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds |
| Soil pH Requirements | 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Propagation Methods | From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall, From seed; sow indoors before last frost, From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse |
| Seed Collecting | Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds |
| Seeds Per Pack | 100 |
