Leaf
Mathieu Menand, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Rose campion
Lychnis coronaria (L.) Desr.
Also known as: Dusty miller, Mullein pink, Bloody William
Family: Caryophyllaceae
40 to 80 cm tall
Gardens, dry banks, rock gardens, well-drained soils
Flowering: June – August
Full sun
Hardy to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its entirely silvery-grey foliage contrasts spectacularly with its very vivid magenta-pink flowers.
🍃 Leaves
Ovate, thick, entirely covered in a felted white-grey down
🌸 Flowers
Vivid magenta-pink flowers with 5 petals, solitary on long stems
🍎 Fruits
Small capsules containing many seeds
🪵 Bark
Biennial or short-lived perennial herbaceous plant, forming a rosette and then upright flowering stems.
🗺️ Distribution
Native to south-eastern Europe; widely naturalised and cultivated in gardens in France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Vivid magenta-pink nectar-bearing flowers, attractive to butterflies and bumblebees.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Perennial borders, dry edgings; silvery foliage and very conspicuous flowering, self-seeds readily.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable toxicity known.
🌿 Other Caryophyllaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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