Rose Campion-Gorgeous and Easy!

Rose Campion---Lychnis coronaria

This flat, deep crimson blossom popping out at the very top of the silvery white foliage is gorgeous on a hot summer's day. Attractive even before it blooms, the heat and dry weather do not seem to phase this great plant.

It is technically a bi-ennial, meaning that it takes two growing cycles to get your first set of flowers. However, our summer growing season is so long that seeds planted in July will bloom next summer. Once you have a stand of this in your garden, you will see the babies pop up all over the place. For the casual look, leave them alone. For a bit more formal look, transplant to a better spot. And don't forget to offer some to your friends!

Rose campion prefers full sun, doesn't mind poor soil and little water. Basal leaves appear first, then tall stalks shoot up and produce color. Later on the seed pods appear and are decorative and fun. When I was a little girl, we used to use the ripe seeds for "pepper" and the unripe ones for "salt" when we were making our mud pies. When I taught preschool, the kids just had so much fun growing this one!