Rose Campion - Colorful Vivid Blooms with Season Long Flowers- Heirloom Perennial
Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) is a striking, colorful perennial and a marvelous addition to many flower gardens. Its folk names include rabbit's ears, crown pink, bloody William and mullein pink. Also called Lamp Flower, as the felted leaves once were used in the making of wicks.
It is part of the Caryophyllaceae family of flowers known as pinks (dianthus). The flower originates in Europe, and records suggest it was cultivated in English gardens in the 1600s. The plant first appears in American gardens in the 1700s with a mention in Thomas Jefferson's writings about Monticello. With its silvery pale green leaves and vivid magenta blooms, its colors pack a punch in mid to late summer. Rose campion's colors look wonderful with a cool color palette including blues, purples and other shades of pink. The leaves form a basal rosette form, similar to lambs' ear, but differs in that the blooms do not discolor after they peak which is common with betony (lambs' ear).
This perennial is easy to grow and adaptable to a variety of growing conditions. Native to northern Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East. It grows naturally on rocky, scrubby hillsides. The plants do well in rock gardens, xeriscaping, wildflower meadows and cottage gardens.
It reseeds readily, so deadheading spent blooms before they produce seed is a good idea if you don't want it to spread throughout your garden.
### How to Grow Lychnis coronaria in the Garden
**Site Selection:**
- **Light:** Full sun to partial shade.
- **Soil:** Prefers well-draining soil; tolerant of poor, sandy, or rocky soils.
- **Water:** Drought-tolerant once established; water moderately.
**Planting:**
- **Spacing:** Space plants about 12-18 inches apart to allow for air circulation.
- **Planting Time:** Best planted in spring or fall.
**Care:**
- **Watering:** Water young plants regularly until established. Mature plants need less frequent watering.
- **Fertilizing:** Not generally necessary, but a light application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring can promote growth.
- **Pruning:** Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent self-seeding. Cut back the plant after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
- **Winter Care:** Mulch around the base of the plant in colder regions to protect the roots during winter.
### How to Grow Lychnis coronaria from Seed
**Seed Collection:**
- Collect seeds from dried seed heads in late summer to early fall.
**Seed Preparation:**
- Seeds can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors.
**Sowing Indoors:**
1. **Timing:** Start seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost date.
2. **Containers:** Use seed trays or pots filled with a well-draining seed-starting mix.
3. **Sowing Depth:** Sow seeds on the surface of the soil and press them lightly into the mix; do not cover with soil as they need light to germinate.
4. **Watering:** Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
5. **Light:** Place the trays in a bright location or under grow lights.
**Germination:**
- **Temperature:** Ideal germination temperature is around 65-70°F (18-21°C).
- **Time:** Seeds typically germinate in 2-3 weeks.
**Transplanting:**
1. **Hardening Off:** Gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions by placing them outside for a few hours each day, increasing the duration over a week.
2. **Planting Out:** Transplant seedlings into the garden after the danger of frost has passed, spacing them 12-18 inches apart.
**Direct Sowing Outdoors:**
1. **Timing:** Sow seeds directly in the garden after the last frost in spring.
2. **Site Preparation:** Prepare the soil by loosening it and removing weeds.
3. **Sowing:** Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press them in lightly.
4. **Watering:** Keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
### Additional Tips
- Lychnis coronaria is a biennial or short-lived perennial, so it often behaves like a biennial, blooming in its second year and then setting seeds.
- It self-seeds readily, so once established, you may find new plants appearing in subsequent years.
- Deer and rabbit resistant, making it a good choice for gardens in areas with these animals.