Lychnis Coronaria.  Rose Campion is a perennial usually grown as a biennial.  Its flowers are magenta and the leaves are a woolly silver-gray.  Rose Campion is a good plant for perennial borders, rock gardens and wildflower gardens.  The flowers bloom sporadically from June until August and are good to use as cut flowers.

Rose Campion requires full sun and well-drained soil.  Wet soil, especially in winter, may prove fatal.  Seeds may be sown indoors and will germinate in three to four weeks.  Seedlings transplant easily and should be moved outdoors in early May.  Seed may also be sown directly outdoors.  Rose Campion self-sows freely and may be divided in spring or fall.

A native of Southern Europe, Rose Campion was found in Britain as early as 1596.  It has become naturalized in several areas of North America.

Heirloom seeds are collected from the gardens and grounds of George Washington's Mount Vernon and cleaned and packaged by hand.