Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria)
Description
Rose campion, scientifically Lychnis coronaria (also sold as Silene coronaria), is a hardy, perennial garden favorite prized for its striking combination of silvery, woolly foliage and tall spikes of vivid magenta flowers. In the garden image you provided, you can see the low, compact clump of gray-silver leaves forming a dense mound from which slender flowering stems rise, each bearing clusters of small five-petaled blooms. The leaves are oval to lanceolate, densely coated with soft hairs that give the plant its characteristic fuzzy, bluish-green appearance. Flower stems emerge above the foliage, typically reaching 1 to 2 feet (30–60 cm) tall, sometimes a bit more in ideal conditions. The flowers themselves are bright magenta to rose-pink, usually about 1 centimeter across, with a simple five-petaled form and often a darker center or eye when fully opened. The overall effect is a graceful, airy silhouette: a silvery basin of foliage topped by erect, flower-bearing spikes that catch the light and contrast beautifully with darker greens and other textures in mixed borders.
Identification Time
August 25th, 2025
Notice
The function of Plantypia is using AI, so it may be inaccurate. Please use it for fun and reference only.