The rose campion, native to Europe and Asia, is a member of the carnation family. The original genus name ‘Lychnis’, from the Greek word ‘lychnos’ for ‘lamp’, is thought to refer to the ancient use of the woolly leaves of the rose campion as lamp wicks. The common name ‘rose campion’ supposedly comes from the use of its flowers to make garlands for athletic champions.
The rose campion is a short-lived perennial from southeastern Europe. It grows to 80 cm tall with silvery-grey felted leaves and produces copious amounts of seed for self-seeding.
The small but showy 5-petaled flowers (3 cm across) occur in small heads held well clear of the foliage. The petals are typically in vivid shades of pink or hot magenta that contrast nicely with the silvery foliage. A white form named ‘Alba’ is also available.