Lychnis coronaria

The  Lychnis coronaria, also known as the rose campion, is neither a sophisticated plant nor a rare species, but this wild and wandering plant always catches the eye with the vividness of its magenta pink colour of rare intensity,  against a backdrop of silvery velvet. Sometimes grown as a biennial, this bushy plant self-seeds spontaneously in rocky and dry soils. Offering a perfect chromatic harmony, it can be difficult to pair with other flowers, but it stands out among grasses and shines in the harsh light of summer, surrounded by plants with gray or white foliage.

The Lychnis coronaria is a plant from the caryophyllaceae family, native to southern Europe and western Asia. It is a tomentose-grayish perennial plant, with a woody stump, forming rosettes at the base from which, from the second year of cultivation, stems emerge up to 40 cm (16in), sometimes more depending on the nature of the soil. They are sturdy, either single or with dichotomous branching. The plant quickly forms a clump that is 45 cm (18in) wide. The flowering period is from June to September, in the form of clusters of single, flat flowers with 5 petals, measuring 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter, of an intense magenta pink, with long peduncles. Its leaves are oblong-ovate, silver-gray, semi-evergreen to evergreen in mild climates.

Plant the rose campion in groups, as a single plant may look a bit awkward. It is an excellent filler perennial, ideal for quickly filling spaces between other plants (irises, lavenders, asters, Perovskia) in a brand new flower bed. A very beautiful combination can be achieved with the Lychnis coronaria Alba variety, with the fresh and vibrant magenta pink of its flowers, the purity of the white flowers, and the silvery velvet of the foliage of both plants. The rose campions elegantly accompany old or English roses and can also be planted in front of evergreen shrubs like the dark green Eleagnus ebbingei with silver young shoots, shrubby wormwoods, and all gray or white foliage. Aromatic plants such as sage, thyme, lavender, and rosemary, which require the same growing conditions, will accompany it in poor soils. This plant also makes very pretty wildflower bouquets.