Rose Campion

Rose campion is a biennial or short-lived perennial with silvery, woolly stems and leaves and bright magenta flowers about 1 inch across in summer. Its flowers are pink to hot magenta and stand clear of the foliage. Cultivars come in white, rose and pink flowers. Butterflies and bees visit the flowers, while deer tend to avoid the plant because of its hairy leaves.

Start seeds indoors about 7 to 9 weeks before the last expected spring frost. Germinate them at room temperature. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them or move them in late spring, spacing plants about 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm) apart. Plant in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

Rose campion can also start on its own. Don’t mulch around the plants and leave the ground undisturbed around dead plants, and seedlings will appear in spring. Basal cuttings can be taken in late spring as another way to propagate it.

Rose campion is drought tolerant and does well in rock or crevice gardens. It prefers fairly dry soil but will tolerate clay and moist soil. Deadhead spent flowers to keep it blooming. You can also shear the plant after its first flowering to get a second flush of flowers later in the season.

The plant is generally free of insects and diseases, but slugs can be a problem. It self-seeds and has the potential to become invasive. Unwanted seedlings are easy to identify and pull out.