Red Campion is generally called a wildflower, plentiful throughout Britain except in the Scottish Highlands or the Outer Hebrides. It’s most plentiful in lightly partially shaded places such as hedgerows, coppices, and woodland clearings, but also occurs on coastal cliffs and mountain rocks.
Where to find red campions?
Look for red campions in lightly shaded areas in woodland, along hedgerows, in fields and ditches and on roadside verges. This species is an ancient woodland indicator, so may give a clue to the age of a wood.
What is the difference between a red campion and a white campion?
Red campion is dioecious, meaning the male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Not to be confused with: white campion ( Silene latifolia) when only the leaves are visible. However, once in flower, the colour of the petals clearly indicates the species.
What is the meaning of red campion?
Red campion’s genus name, Silene, probably derives from the Greek word ‘sialon’, which means saliva, in reference to the gummy substance the plant secretes on the stems. Folklore tells that red campion flowers guard bees’ honey stores, as well as protecting fairies from being discovered.
How many seeds can a red campion produce?
Female red campions can produce thousands of seeds.
What is the red campion associated with?
In the Anglican Church, red campion is associated with Saint James as it flowers around his feast day.
What is a flashy woodland guardian?
These flashy woodland guardians have strong links to myths and mysticism. They are favourites of plenty of woodland insects – and fairies – and bloom a cheerful pink soon after the bluebell has finished flowering.
What is a red campion?
The red campion is an attractive, medium to tall perennial or biennial plant with a downy stem. Leaves: hairy, and grow in opposite pairs. Flowers: a distinctive pink-red in colour with five petals that are fused at their base to form a tube surrounded by a purple-brown calyx (protective sheath). Red campion is dioecious, meaning ...
How long does it take for organic fertilizer to release?
You can expect organic fertilizers to release their fertilizing nutrients slowly, around one or more growing seasons. In comparison, general synthetic fertilizers are water-soluble and start releasing their organic nutrients within a matter of weeks. This is a very big benefit when red Campion plants are hungry.
How to grow red campion?
Sow red Campion seeds in spring or autumn either outside where it is to red Campion flower or in seed plate and cover slightly with organic compost. It is usually very easy to germinate and the seedlings, which are fast to established, can be pricked out and grown on, for planting out later in the year. Red Campion will grow easily from seed and that can be sown in either the spring season or early autumn. When the seedlings are wide sufficient to hold, plant them into individual containers. Once the red Campion plant is developed to enough size then divide and plant into well-drained soil in a partially shaded area. Alternatively, makes things very easy for you and then invest in lawn turf, a pre-grown wildflower meadow that’s as very simple to lay as a meadow mat. Plant red Campion seedlings in early spring for late spring to summer flowers or late autumn for early spring blooms. If weather conditions are right, you should see success as red Campion germinates very easily from seeds. Shove for width, not depth, since this red Campion plant will spread and clump as it grows. Sow the red Campion seeds six to 20 inches apart and lightly cover with soil.
What is the difference between a red campion and a red campion?
Flowers: a typical pink-red with five petals that are put together at their base to form a tube surrounded by a purple-brown calyx preventive sheath. Red Campion is heterostyled, meaning the male and female flowers grow on individual plants.
What is the name of the red campion?
Planting Guide for Growing Red Campion (Image credit: pixabay) Red Campion is also known as Silene dioica and it is a very pretty, low-maintenance wildflower, bearing graceful pink flowers on tall, rich green stems.
How long does a red campion live?
Red Campion is a perennial or biennial plant, which means it can live for several years, growing and flowering in spring and summer, and dying back in the autumn season.
What flowers attract bees?
They are a fine source of honey and pollen. Welsh poppies are yellow or orange and bring a splash of colour to your red Campion garden and their papery flowers attract bees.
What does the color of the petals mean on a red campion?
However, once in the red Campion flower, the colour of the petals indicates the species . Corn cockle or Agro stemma githago, such as red Campion, has pink-red flowers but the petals are different types of shape and more rounded.
Did you know?
Also known as 'Adder's Flower', red campion is a good source of food for moths, bees and butterflies.
What is the scientific name for a red campion?
Scientific name: Silene dioica. Just as the bluebells finish flowering in our woodlands, the rose-red blooms of red campion start to brighten up the woodland floor. Look for this pretty plant in hedges and roadsides, too.
How to identify red campion?
How to identify. Red campion has rose-red flowers with five petals, each deeply notched and almost divided into two; its leaves and stems are hairy. In places where it grows alongside white campion, the two may hybridise to produce pinky or white blooms.
Do red campions bloom in summer?
The bright rose-red flowers of red campion brighten up roadsides, woodlands and hedges throughout the summer. Just as the bluebells finish flowering in our woodlands, red campion starts to come into bloom. If they grow side-by-side for a few weeks, they can turn a woodland floor into an amazing sea of pink and blue.
What happens when a red campion plant stops flowering?
When the plant has ceased flowering, the seed capsules appear. The capsules open at the top, allowing the numerous small, black seeds to escape. Red Campion is sometimes, rather confusingly, known as the ‘cuckoo-flower’, not to be mistaken with cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis).
What is the scientific name for red campion?
Red Campion. Scientific name: Silene dioica. Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink) Red Campion provides a vivid splash of pink in spring that contrasts with almost anything else in flower at the same time. Red Campion thrives in a wide variety of habitats including woodland, roadside verges, hedgerows and rocky ground.
What is the flower of a red campion?
Red Campion often cross-pollinates with White Campion ( Silene latifolia subsp. alba ), an introduced plant, and produces fully fertile hybrids. The resulting cross bears pink flowers.
What is the name of the plant that has two flowers?
The second part of its scientific name, dioica, means ‘two houses’, and refers to the fact that each Red Campion plant has either all male or all female flowers. The root has also been used as a soap substitute for washing clothes, obtained by simmering the root in hot water.
Can red campions grow in hot or dry areas?
Red Campion is easy to grow, will self-seed well and succeeds in any position that is not hot and dry. It is perfect for naturalising in partially shady areas of a moist wildflower meadow or woodland.
When do bumblebees pollinate?
The first flowers appear in May. They are pollinated by long-tonged bumblebees and hoverflies. The deep pink flowers are present until July and the seeds ripen between June and August. It often produces a second crop in autumn.
Is a sage plant a biennial or perennial?
It occurs as either a biennial or a short-lived perennial herb with a creeping rootstock and upright flowering stems. The first flowers appear in May.
What is the name of the plant that is the birthplace of Bacchus?
Some of the well-known common names of the plant are Morning campion, Red campion, Red catchfly, Red cockle, rough robin, Lord, God of Blood, Red Night Elke, Red Forest Elke and Taglicht Elke. Silene, the genus name, is a reference to the Greek woodland god Silenus the foster father of Bacchus, who was often depicted covered in a sticky foam ...
Where is the Red Catchfly plant?
Throughout central, western and northern Europe, and locally in southern Europe. Shapes. Broadly ovoid to globose capsule 10–15 mm long containing numerous seeds. Silene dioica (syn. Melandrium rubrum), commonly known as red campion and red catchfly is a herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae.
How many petals does a sycamore have?
It is a biennial or perennial plant, with dark pink to red flowers, each 1.8-2.5 cm across. There are five petals which are deeply notched at the end, narrowed at the base and all go into an urn-shaped calyx. As indicated by the specific name, male and female flowers are borne on separate plants (dioecious), the male with 10 stamens and a 10-veined calyx, the female with 5 styles and a 20-veined calyx. The flowers are unscented. The flowering period is from May to October and the flowers are frequently visited by flies, like Rhingia campestris.
How long is a savanna fruit?
Fruit. The fruit, produced from July onwards, is a broadly ovoid to globose capsule 10–15 mm long containing numerous seeds, opening at the apex by 10 teeth which curve back. Seeds are dark-brown to black, broadly reniform, plump, 1–1.6 mm, densely and evenly papillate.
How to make soap from root?
The soap is obtained by simmering the root in hot water.
What is red campion?
Pretty and low-maintenance, Silene dioica (Red Campion) is a semi-evergreen perennial forming bold clumps of spoon shaped, downy leaves from which emerge tall, rich green stems bearing delicate pink flowers. Blooming profusely from late spring to early summer, then sporadically until fall, each flower, 1 in. across (2.5 cm), features five deeply notched petals. Rich in pollen, they attract bees and butterflies. The female flowers, borne on separate plants, are followed by seed capsules that will open when ripe to disperse their content. This wildflower makes a good addition to a rockery and is a great addition to a moist wildflower meadow.
What is the name of the white campion?
Silene latifolia (White Campion) is listed in the...
How tall does a wildflower grow?
This wildflower makes a good addition to a rockery and is a great addition to a moist wildflower meadow. Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 2 ft. across (60 cm).
What type of soil do sage plants like?
Thrives in full sun to part shade in moderately fertile, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. Excellent drainage is essential and sandy or gravelly soils are favored by this plant. Best in partly sunny sites with afternoon shade. Plants are best left undisturbed once established.
