Lychnis (syn. Silene)

Rose Campion

These beautiful little flowering plants – both the red rose campion (L. coronaria) and white rose campion (L. coronaria ‘Alba’) do well in almost any garden situation, but what makes them extra exciting is that they are useful as xeriscaping plants too as they handle droughts really well.

Also known as Bloody Mary, Bloody William, Dusty Miller or Mullein Pinks, the plants have soft velvety grey foliage with flower spikes reaching up to 60cm high and flowers are deep cerise pink or white (‘Alba’) in late spring through to early autumn.

They selfseed quite readily, so don’t be surprised if you find more of them popping up in your garden each season.

Size:

60cm

40cm

Position:

Full sun

Part Sun

Well-drained soil

Xeriscaping

Uses:

Flowers

Landscaping

Beneficial Insects

Ragged Robin

Just as beautiful, but preferring a marshy garden more than a dry one, is their cousin, Ragged Robin (L. flos-cuculi).

This perennial is native to damp lands in Europe and needs moist but well-drained soil. With its blue-green lance-shaped leaves and deeply divided pink flowers it is a very attractive plant suited to a wildlife / beneficial insect garden.