The red campion is widespread in Germany as well as in Central and Western Europe, growing wild and mainly found in meadows, in sparse deciduous forests and at the edges of forests. The eye-catching pink flowers can be seen from afar and serve as food for numerous species of insects.

In contrast to many other campions, the red campion prefers more shade

Data and facts about the red campion at a glance

  • Botanical name: Silene dioica
  • Family: Carnation family
  • Genus: Campion Campion (Silene)
  • Common names: Red campion, Daylight carnation, Red night carnation, Lord's blood, Red wood carnation
  • Origin: Eurasia
  • Distribution: mainly Central and Northern Europe
  • Habitat: damp meadows and forests, deciduous forests, alluvial forests, edges of forests, in the Alps up to 2,400 meters altitude
  • Growth form: herbaceous plant
  • Perennial: biennial, deciduous
  • Height: between 30 and 90 centimeters
  • flowers: radial symmetric, five split petals
  • Colours: pink, red
  • Flowering time: April to October
  • Fruits: Capsule fruit with poppy-like seeds
  • Leaves: lanceolate, dark green
  • Propagation: seeds, division
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Toxicity: no, but contains highly irritating saponins
  • Use: Ornamental plant, formerly also as a detergent

Partially shaded location preferred

As in its natural location, the red campion prefers a semi-shady location in the garden. In addition, the perennial likes a lot of warmth, but it must not dry out - it is not for nothing that the plant is often found in damp meadows. Basically, the wetter the location, the brighter the red campion can be. For this reason, locations on the banks of ponds and the like are ideal. In addition, the campions should always be planted in groups, as only in this way can they develop their full potential.

Cultivate red campion in the garden

The red campion is a very flowering perennial, provided the site conditions are right. Otherwise, the plant does not need much care: it neither needs to be fertilized nor cut regularly. The plant does not need any help with propagation either, as it reproduces itself very reliably. Campions are extremely hardy and do not need additional winter protection.

tips

Plant as many different species and varieties of campion in groups as possible. These will interbreed over time and produce the most interesting crossbreed products. In addition to the red campion, other Silene species are also suitable for this purpose, such as the garden campion (Silene coronaria), the common pitch campion (Silene viscaria) or the cuckoo campion (Silene flos-cuculi).

Category:

Herbs