The crowned campion (bot. Silene coronaria, formerly Lychnis coronaria), also known as velvet carnation or Vexier carnation, is one of around 500 different types of carnations. Unlike most representatives of this genus, however, it does not have fringed flowers, but wheel-shaped, simple ones of bright crimson color. These, in turn, provide an interesting contrast to the downy, grey-white shoots and leaves. The two to three-year-old carnations are ideal for dry and sunny locations and, once in the right place, require little attention.

The carnation carnation is a beautiful carnation variety for the garden

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. leaves
  5. flowers and flowering time
  6. fruit
  7. toxicity
  8. Which location is suitable?
  9. floor
  10. Plant the carnation correctly
  11. watering and fertilizing
  12. Cut the carnation correctly
  13. Propagate carnation
  14. hibernate
  15. diseases and pests
  16. species and varieties

    17. origin and distribution

    "Vexiernelke" is one of the German trivial names of the crown campion. He refers to the fact that the plant, which blooms in a striking pink, does not have a scent: "Vexieren" means something like "deceive" or "tease". Since 1995, the species has been assigned to the ca. 500 to 600 different species of campion campion (bot. Silene), which in turn belongs to the carnation family (bot. Caryophyllaceae). The species is originally widespread in south-eastern Europe and Asia Minor - up to the foothills of the Himalayas - where it grows wild in sparse forests, in bushes and on rocky slopes. However, since carnations quickly go wild in suitable locations, they can also be found in numerous places in Germany in the wild. It has been in culture for a very long time - the first pictorial representation dates back to 1410.

    use

    Do not plant the attractive campion individually in the bed, as the plant feels most comfortable in the company of its own kind - and also comes into its own in groups. The species is suitable both for planting in open spaces and as an accompanying perennial in beds and borders, where it creates a harmoniously colorful overall picture together with yellow, white or blue-flowering species such as coneflower, larkspur, garden sage, evening primrose or yarrow. As in its natural location, the carnation also feels very comfortable on the sunny edge of a woody plantation - for example along a hedge. The pretty flowers attract numerous insects to the garden during their flowering period. Butterflies in particular fly to the pink flowers.

    appearance and growth

    The evergreen carnation is a rather short-lived, clump-forming perennial that can only be cultivated for two to a maximum of three years, but can be propagated quite easily by self-sowing in suitable locations. The herbaceous plant forms flat rosettes, while the flower-bearing stalks reach heights of growth between 40 and 90 centimeters. All parts of the plant above ground are felty hairy.

    leaves

    The Silene coronaria, which has foliage all year round, develops its dense, white-grey hairy leaf rosettes in autumn and keeps them through the winter. In spring, the up to 90 centimeters high, felty-white flower stalks sprout from these. These also have a few leaves that are narrowly lanceolate in shape.

    flowers and flowering time

    Between June and August, the pretty, about three centimeter wide flowers of the garden carnation appear. They stand individually on the loosely branched flower stalks and, depending on the variety, have a crimson to purple color. There are also some white flowering varieties. The broad, undivided petals are joined together at their base, giving the whole flower a plate-like appearance. Crown carnations bloom most beautifully in the second year.

    fruit

    After flowering, numerous fruit capsules containing seeds are formed.

    toxicity

    The carnation is considered non-toxic, but it is also not suitable for consumption. Neither the leaves nor the flowers taste particularly pleasant.

    Which location is suitable?

    Put the carnation in a location that is as sunny and warm as possible. Although the perennial also thrives in light semi-shade, it only produces a few flowers there.

    floor

    A place on nutrient-rich, fresh and sandy-humic soil that is loose and well-drained is perfect. Carnations wither very quickly in severe drought, which is why the soil should be all the wetter the sunnier the perennial is. The plant, on the other hand, does not tolerate winter moisture - just like waterlogging or a wet subsoil. Therefore, plant the perennials at the edge of a garden pond or along a hedge. The vigorous plants can also often be found on a sunny slope or an embankment.

    Plant the carnation correctly

    As a rule, the carnation is sown in spring, but you can also plant purchased or pre-grown plants directly in the desired location. The ideal planting time is spring, but container goods can generally be planted in the garden well into winter. The only requirement is frost-free, mild and not too humid weather. When planting, keep a planting distance of between 20 and 30 centimeters to other plants - you can plan around eight to ten plants per square meter of planting area. And this is how it is planted:

    • Thoroughly moisten the root ball before planting
    • Dig a planting hole - twice as wide and deep as the root ball
    • Mix the excavated material with compost and, if necessary, sand/gravel
    • Plant the carnation as deep as in the pot
    • Press down well
    • water well and keep slightly moist in the following weeks

    watering and fertilizing

    Carnations planted out in the garden do not need to be fertilized, but do need an additional water supply during prolonged periods of drought.

    Cut the carnation correctly

    A pruning of the very easy-care perennial is only necessary if self-sowing is to be avoided. In this case, cut the plants about 15 centimeters above the ground after the flowering period, then they can no longer develop the seed-bearing capsule fruits. You can also remove dead leaves from time to time.

    Propagate carnation

    The perennials die off after about two to three years, but reproduce very reliably through self-seeding or through the numerous offshoots. Within a short period of time, dense carpets of plants are formed, the spread of which must be limited rather than promoted. However, propagation by division is not necessary.

    Targeted propagation is best achieved by sowing, whereby you can either buy the seeds commercially or collect them yourself - the capsules are ripe as soon as they burst open and release the seeds. How to sow:

    • is sown in spring
    • Sow directly at the site or in a container
    • sunny to light semi-shady location
    • use loose and humus-rich potting soil
    • prepare them well, loosen them up and remove weeds
    • Scatter seeds, but do not cover with soil - light germinates
    • just press lightly
    • Slightly moisten the soil and always keep it slightly moist
    • Avoid waterlogging
    • Prick out plants as soon as they have at least four leaves

    Incidentally, the carnations can be very well socialized with other types of campion, which not only results in an exciting picture in the flower bed - the closely related varieties interbreed, so that with a bit of luck new varieties will emerge.

    hibernate

    Carnations are hardy and do not need additional winter protection. Only winter wetness should be avoided, as the plants do not tolerate it. To protect against constant rain and snow, you can cover them with fir or spruce sticks.

    diseases and pests

    The carnation is not only extremely easy to care for, but also very resistant to diseases and pests. In most cases, the only problem is fungal infestation due to excessive moisture or even waterlogging in the bed. In this case, the affected plants should be removed immediately to prevent further spread. In the case of pests, aphids are particularly common, but they can be removed quite easily. Snails, on the other hand, avoid the plants, so there is no danger to be feared from this direction.

    Confusion carnations not blooming, what to do?

    The crown light carnations, which are floriferous in themselves, often only show their colorful flowers in the second year. However, if the flowers don't want to bloom at all, either the location is not suitable (too dark and/or too humid) or pests are robbing the plants of the strength to develop their flowers. So either move the carnations or put an end to the pest infestation with the help of suitable means.

    tips

    Carnations make - especially in combination with other summer flowers - pretty and quite long-lasting cut flowers for the vase.

    species and varieties

    Numerous different cultivars of the crown campion are commercially available. These varieties are particularly attractive in the flower bed:

    • 'Abbotswood Rose': pretty, pink flowers
    • 'Alba': pure white flowers that blend beautifully with other white flowering perennials
    • 'Angel's Blush': also white flowers, but with a pink eye
    • 'Atrosanguinea': cultivar group with bright magenta to crimson flowers
    • 'Blushing Bride': white flowers with a pretty pink eye
    • 'Dancing Ladies': Varietal mixture of white, pink and cherry-red flowering varieties
    • 'Hutchinson's Cream': white flowers and pretty mottled foliage

    If you want to create variety in the flower bed, you can plant other types of carnations in addition to the carnations, such as these:

    • Alpine campion (Silene suecica or Lychnis alpina): crimson, dense flower clusters between May and June, bushy, sprawling habit, up to 15 centimeters high
    • Common pitchcarnation (Silene viscaria): pretty pink to red flowers between May and June, height of growth up to approx. 40 centimetres, strongly branched growth, for dry locations, varieties are for example 'Fire' or 'Plena' (variety with double flowers)
    • Cuckoo campion (Silene flos-cuculi): native species with fringed, pink flowers between May and June, heavily branched, bushy growth with growth heights of up to 40 centimeters
    • Lychnis x arkwrightii 'Vesuvius': Hybrid of the scarlet campion and the garden campion, forms strong orange-red umbels of flowers between June and July, has dark foliage, height of growth up to approx. 40 centimetres
    • Red campion (Silene dioica): native species with highly branched inflorescences and bright red flowers, blooms for a very long time between April and October - the individual flowers only open for one day each, bushy growth with growth heights of up to 90 centimeters, for moist and calcareous soils
    • Scarlet campion or burning love (Lychnis chalcedonica): forms spherical, bright red cymes between June and July, bushy growth with growth heights of up to 80 centimetres, for locations in full sun
    • White campion (Silene latifolia): native species with numerous white flowers, which only open in the afternoon and have a strong scent, flowers between June and September primarily on nitrogen-rich loamy soil, bushy habit with growth heights of up to 120 centimetres

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Herbs