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This deciduous, herbaceous plant with its striking red to pink flowers can be found primarily in damp meadows, in sparse deciduous forests and at the edges of forests. Sometimes the carnation species is also grown in gardens because it looks very pretty, especially in combination with other campion plants. Little is known, however, that the leaves of the red campion are edible.
Leaves, flowers and seeds of the campion are readily consumed
Using the Red Campion
For centuries, the crushed seeds of the plant were used in folk medicine to treat snake bites, and the roots could be used to make a soap-like substance that was actually used for cleaning. In some regions, the young leaves of the red campion were (and sometimes still are) harvested as an ingredient in salads or soups.
Red campion contains saponins
However, these leaves contain saponins that can irritate the skin and stomach in sensitive people. In addition, the leaves taste slightly bitter, which intensifies over the course of the year - the content of these bitter substances increases significantly over the course of the year. For this reason, it is advisable to only eat the young leaves in spring. Sensitive people as well as pregnant women and people with kidney problems or rheumatism should rather refrain from enjoying it.
Do not confuse red campion with other campions
But before you run into the garden and want to try fresh campion leaves, it is better to make sure that it is actually red campion. Other carnations such as the carnation or the burning love are either not edible or do not taste particularly good. Besides the red campion, the white campion (Silene latifolia) is also edible.
tips
The flowers of the red and white campion are also very pretty in a colorful summer salad - especially in combination with edible flowers of different colors such as nasturtium, borage or evening primrose.