Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) is an old-fashioned perennial flower that deserves a spot in today’s gardens. With its woolly silver leaves and bright magenta blooms, this hardy plant provides fabulous color and texture contrast in perennial borders, rock gardens, and cottage gardens. If you are looking for rose campion plants for sale, here is what you need to know about this unique flower and the best sources to buy plants online.
An Overview of Rose Campion
Also known as mullein pink, rose campion is a short-lived perennial flower in the carnation family. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, this hardy plant has naturalized in parts of North America.
Rose campion grows 1-3 feet tall on upright, unbranched stems clad with striking silver-gray woolly leaves. From early summer to early fall, vibrant magenta flowers open singly or in clusters above the foliage. The saucer-shaped blooms have five notched petals and long protruding stamens.
Like many old-fashioned flowers, rose campion is easy to grow, trouble-free and attracts pollinators. It thrives in full sun and average to poor well-drained soil. Able to tolerate heat, humidity, and some drought, this adaptable plant also has good cold hardiness, surviving winters as low as zone 3. Deadheading spent blooms promotes reblooming.
In the garden, rose campion stands out with its unique woolly foliage and bright pinkish-red blooms. It looks best planted in groups and makes an excellent cut flower. The nectar-rich blossoms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Plants readily self-seed, so deadheading is advised if you want to control spread. Deer and rabbits usually avoid this perennial.
Where to Buy Rose Campion Plants Online
Rose campion is not always easy to find at local garden centers. Ordering plants online is a convenient way to add this coveted perennial to your garden. Here are two top online sources for buying rose campion plants:
Bluestone Perennials
Bluestone Perennials offers Lychnis coronaria ‘Atrosanguinea’, a variety of rose campion with deep magenta red blooms and fuzzy silver foliage. Plants are sold in 3.5 inch pots ready for planting.
This family-owned company has been growing perennials for over 70 years in Ohio. They ship at the optimal time for your zone and guarantee living arrival. Pricing is around $16 per plant.
Wilson Bros Gardens
Wilson Bros Gardens sells Lychnis coronaria, the species rose campion available in shades of pink, magenta and white. Plants are shipped in 1 gallon pots.
This grower located in Georgia provides excellent customer service and guaranteed living plants. Rose campion costs about $12 per gallon pot.
Both of these online retailers offer free shipping on rose campion plants. They also carry a wide selection of other perennials, shrubs, trees and more. Their websites provide helpful plant information and care tips too.
How to Plant and Grow Rose Campion
Rose campion thrives when planted in a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. It tolerates partial shade but may bloom less. While flexible about soil, it prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH levels.
When your plants arrive, plant them at the same level they were growing in the pot. Space plants 12-18 inches apart in groups of 3-5 for best visual impact.
Rose campion requires average watering of around 1 inch per week. Allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings. These perennials are somewhat drought tolerant once established.
Fertilize plants once in early spring with a balanced fertilizer. Rose campion blooms on old wood so avoid pruning in fall or spring. You can cut plants back by one-third after the initial flush of blooms fades to encourage reblooming.
Divide large clumps every 2-3 years in spring to maintain vigor. Simply dig up the plant, cut it into sections with a shovel or knife, and replant the pieces.
For the best results, grow rose campion plants in full sun in average to poor, well-drained soil. Space them about 1 foot apart for good air circulation. Water weekly if rain is lacking. With proper care, you can enjoy the vibrant blooms and attractive woolly foliage of this charming perennial for years to come.
Where to Buy Rose Campion: The Best Sources
To add this unique plant to your yard, look for rose campion plants for sale online at reputable nurseries like Bluestone Perennials and Wilson Bros Gardens. Both offer a wide selection of plants and excellent service at reasonable prices.
With its versatility and easy care nature, rose campion is a hardy perennial that’s poised to make a comeback in today’s gardens. The vibrant blooms and distinctive foliage provide fabulous curb appeal and work in diverse landscape designs. Plant a few of these unfussy beauties this year and enjoy their bright blossoms for many seasons to come.
Lychnis coronaria ROSE CAMPION SKU: 2623-025
This hardy perennial is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It has achieved the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Generally grown as a biennial, if pruned at the right time of year, it can be grown as a perennial. Will self-seed if not pruned. Low maintenance plant, will grow in a variety of settings, preferring drier conditions to the Lychnis flos-cuculi varieties. Blooms from July to August.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zone: 4-8
Height: 30″, 75cm
Location: Sun or part shade
Seeds per packet: 25
Sow just under the surface of the soil and water in. Keep continuously moist. Temperature 20-22°C, 68-72°F. Germinates in 7-20 days.
This hardy perennial is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It has achieved the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Generally grown as a biennial, if pruned at the right time of year, it can be grown as a perennial. Will self-seed if not pruned. Low maintenance plant, will grow in a variety of settings, preferring drier conditions to the Lychnis flos-cuculi varieties. Blooms from July to August.
Type: Hardy perennial
Hardiness zone: 4-8
Height: 30″, 75cm
Location: Sun or part shade
Seeds per packet: 25
Sow just under the surface of the soil and water in. Keep continuously moist. Temperature 20-22°C, 68-72°F. Germinates in 7-20 days.
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Rose Campion Plant Profile
FAQ
Does rose campion come back every year?
Rose campion is known as a short-lived perennial (much like other varieties of dianthus) or a biennial, so it may not return year to year in your garden unless it reseeds. It can reseed easily in the garden under the right conditions and has the potential to become invasive, popping up unexpectedly.
When can I plant rose campion?
Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Keep at 65-70°F. Starting Outdoors: Direct sow spring to summer.
Where is the best place to plant rose campion?
Rose campion prefers full sun to light shade. It flourishes in areas exposed to at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Providing afternoon shade in regions with high temperatures could prove advantageous, safeguarding the plant from excessive heat.
Is rose campion an invasive plant?
Rose Campion is an Invasive Plant. Rose Campion spreads rapidly, threatening ecosystems and outcompeting native plants. Mistaken identity: distinguish it from similar plants for effective management. Control is costly but crucial: manual, chemical, and legal strategies are key.
Is rose campion a perennial?
Rose campion is considered to be a short lived perennial plant. The lychnis coronaria plant will do best in the US Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9. Rose campion needs to have well-drained soil. Be careful with water near their roots, as they can suffer from root rot if they are exposed to water for long periods of time.
How big does a rose campion plant get?
Rose campion plant tends to grow up to 3 feet tall. They are small plants that do not take much space, so they can be easily paired with other types of brilliant magenta flowers. Each blossom will only last one day. This flower is also referred to as Lychnis coronaria, which is the Greek word for ‘’lamp.’’
Can a rose campion grow in a rock garden?
Even in rock gardens, the rose campion shrub may thrive in dry soil, like most plants. Even though this flower will survive if they are planted in a slightly shaded area, they definitely prefer to be fully exposed to the sun. They need to be watered once a week.
Where do rose campion plants grow?
Read on to learn more about these interesting plants. Native to northern Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East, rose campion has become naturalized in many parts of the United States. It grows naturally on rocky, scrubby hillsides. The plants do well in rock gardens, xeriscaping, wildflower meadows and cottage gardens.
Do rose campion flowers look at home?
Rose campion flowers look at home in cottage garden settings and more. Read on to learn more about these interesting plants. Native to northern Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East, rose campion has become naturalized in many parts of the United States. It grows naturally on rocky, scrubby hillsides.
How do you grow a rose campion plant?
Cut back plant by 1/3 when first blooms begin to fade. Divide periodically in spring. Will self sow. Prefers a well-drained site. Can be pinched back to control height. Lychnis Atrosanguinea – Common name: Rose Campion – The deep magenta flowers of Rose Campion provide excellent color contrast with its stunning silver-woolly leaves.