Red campion Silene dioica 
 
Family – Caryophyllaceae, Pink family
Perennial, 45-80 cm tall
Flowering – March to November
Soil - all soil types, neutral, not waterlogged
Sun  - Partial shade
        
 
 
 
Red campion is a beautiful rosy-red to pale pink wildflower of woodland glades and edges, hedge banks and verges in light-dappled shade throughout Britain. The combination of this species with native bluebells in woodland is a wonderful sight in May. Long after other woodland plants have seeded, red campion often continues to grace shady areas with its presence – with a few blooms persisting into winter.
 
Red campion was first formally recorded by John Gerard in his Herbal in 1597.1. There are over 80 local names2. for red campion including bird’s eye, red robin, robin hood, robin-run-in-the-hedge, and large robin’s eyes. The name campion is thought to be derived from champion as in ‘champion of the garden’ and was regarded as a decorative flower in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. It does not appear to have had value as medicinal or culinary herb.
 
In gardens red campion is a good companion to other species along hedge banks, fence margins and other areas in dappled shade in neutral, well-drained soil. It can be grown with other woodland plants including primrose, columbine and grasses such as false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum and wood sedge Carex sylvatica. More formally it fits comfortably into flower borders where a large group brings early colour from late April until early/late summer. However, resist the temptation to dead-head when the flowers are over as the larvae of some moths feed on the seed heads. Red campion seeds freely and the small plants can be potted up and given away or planted in other areas of the garden. The "dioica" in the plant’s scientific name refers to the fact that female and male flowers occur on separate plants, so if a persistent population of this short-lived perennial is wanted it is necessary to ensure that both female and male plants are grown.
 
Red campion has more than 30 species of insect associated with it3. including the gall midge Contarinia steini and several moth species including lychnis Hadena bicruris, campion Sideridis rivularis and marbled coronet Hadena confusa. The larvae of these moths also feed on the ripening seeds of white and sea campion and the closely-related garden plant Sweet William Dianthus barbatus.
 
White campion Silene latifolia can be grown in similar situations and also edges of lawns. Sea campion Silene uniflora is a smaller spreading plant of coastal shingle and rocks, also mountainous areas in Scotland and Wales, and is appropriate for shingle gardens and rockeries in full sun. Sea campion has smooth, pale glaucous green leaves and white flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.  
 
 
           Single flower of white campion                                                Low-growing sea campion
 
References
 
1.Pearman, D. 2017. The Discovery of the Native Flora of Britain and Ireland, A compilation of the first records for 1670 species and aggregates, covering Great Britain, Ireland, The Channel Isles and the Isle of Man. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. p 373.
 
2.Vickery, R. 2019. Vickery’s Folk Flora, An A to Z of the Folklore and Uses of British and Irish Plants. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. London.p 562.                                                                                                                                                                                                         
3.See the Biological Record Centre database       
 
 
Page written by Caroline Ware.  Compiled by Steve Head
Red campion Silene dioica 
 
Family – Caryophyllaceae, Pink family
Perennial, 45-80 cm tall
Flowering – March to November
Soil - all soil types, neutral, not waterlogged
Sun  - Partial shade
        
 
 
 
Red campion Silene dioica 
 
Family – Caryophyllaceae, Pink family
Perennial, 45-80 cm tall
Flowering – March to November
Soil - all soil types, neutral, not waterlogged
Sun  - Partial shade
        
 
 
 
Red campion is a beautiful rosy-red to pale pink wildflower of woodland glades and edges, hedge banks and verges in light-dappled shade throughout Britain. The combination of this species with native bluebells in woodland is a wonderful sight in May. Long after other woodland plants have seeded, red campion often continues to grace shady areas with its presence – with a few blooms persisting into winter.
 
Red campion was first formally recorded by John Gerard in his Herbal in 1597.1. There are over 80 local names2. for red campion including bird’s eye, red robin, robin hood, robin-run-in-the-hedge, and large robin’s eyes. The name campion is thought to be derived from champion as in ‘champion of the garden’ and was regarded as a decorative flower in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. It does not appear to have had value as medicinal or culinary herb.
 
In gardens red campion is a good companion to other species along hedge banks, fence margins and other areas in dappled shade in neutral, well-drained soil. It can be grown with other woodland plants including primrose, columbine and grasses such as false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum and wood sedge Carex sylvatica. More formally it fits comfortably into flower borders where a large group brings early colour from late April until early/late summer. However, resist the temptation to dead-head when the flowers are over as the larvae of some moths feed on the seed heads. Red campion seeds freely and the small plants can be potted up and given away or planted in other areas of the garden. The "dioica" in the plant’s scientific name refers to the fact that female and male flowers occur on separate plants, so if a persistent population of this short-lived perennial is wanted it is necessary to ensure that both female and male plants are grown.
 
Red campion has more than 30 species of insect associated with it3. including the gall midge Contarinia steini and several moth species including lychnis Hadena bicruris, campion Sideridis rivularis and marbled coronet Hadena confusa. The larvae of these moths also feed on the ripening seeds of white and sea campion and the closely-related garden plant Sweet William Dianthus barbatus.
 
White campion Silene latifolia can be grown in similar situations and also edges of lawns. Sea campion Silene uniflora is a smaller spreading plant of coastal shingle and rocks, also mountainous areas in Scotland and Wales, and is appropriate for shingle gardens and rockeries in full sun. Sea campion has smooth, pale glaucous green leaves and white flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.  
 
 
   Single flower of white campion                  Low-growing sea campion
 
References
 
1.Pearman, D. 2017. The Discovery of the Native Flora of Britain and Ireland, A compilation of the first records for 1670 species and aggregates, covering Great Britain, Ireland, The Channel Isles and the Isle of Man. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. p 373.
 
2.Vickery, R. 2019. Vickery’s Folk Flora, An A to Z of the Folklore and Uses of British and Irish Plants. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. London.p 562.                                                                                                                                          3.See the Biological Record Centre database       
 
 
Page written by Caroline Ware.  Compiled by Steve Head
           Garden Wildplants
        Garden Wildplants