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Caryophyllaceae
Red Campion
Silene dioica
Woodland cheer and resilience.
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Genus
- Silene
- Native to
- Europe, western Asia
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–90 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full sun
- Soil
- moist, fertile, well-drained
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 4–8
- Lifespan
- short-lived perennial
Did you know
- Red campion is dioecious — 'dioica' means 'two houses', as male and female flowers grow on separate plants.
- Despite the name, the flowers are pink rather than true red, and brighten shady hedgerows beautifully.
- It readily hybridizes with white campion (Silene latifolia), producing intermediate pink offspring.
- In British folklore, picking red campion was said to invoke the wrath of fairies and goblins.
- The flowers have no scent during the day but produce a faint fragrance at dusk to attract moth pollinators.
Color meanings
Pink
rural charm and enduring spirit