Red campion Silene dioica
Table of Contents
A real favourite with pollinating insects, red campion brightens up woodland areas with it’s attractive pink flowers, during the early summertime, just as the bluebells, stitchwort & wood anemone are disappearing.
Plant family: Caryophyllaceae
Aliases: Devil’s flower, hare’s eye, poor robin, red catchfly, Robin Hood
Flowering period: May – October
Flower colour: Deep pink – red
Preferred soil type: Most types, moist
Habitat: Roadside verges, hedgerows, woodland edges
Status: Common
General information
A tall, herbaceous, annual, biennial or perennial plant commonly seen on roadside verges, hedgerows and woodland perimeters. Along with bluebell, wood anemone and primrose, red campion is often found growing in ancient woodland and is a good indicator to its age.
Red campion, which is widespread through out the UK, can reach a metre in height (although in most instances it’s shorter) thriving on moist, non-acidic soils and prefers light shade rather than full sunlight. These wildflowers are dioecious, meaning the male and female flowers grow on separate plants, with the male flowers generally smaller than the female.
This versatile plant often varies in colour from deep pink to a paler pink, which can be the result of red and white campion cross pollinating. Red campion is a low maintenance plant, they establish quickly from seed as they eventually form bold clumps adding a burst of colour during the summertime.
Identification
Flowers: The flowers are a deep pink – red colour, each having 5 deeply cut petals, giving the appearance of 10 petals. Each flower measures between 20 – 25mm in diameter. It is possible for red campion to cross pollinate with white campion and create a hybrid, when this occurs the flowers tend to be more of a pale pink colour.
Leaves: Red campion leaves are opposite, entire (not toothed), lanceolate to oval in shape with pointed tips. They have fine, soft hairs and are sometimes sticky above.
Value for wildlife
Red campion is very attractive to pollinators and provides a valuable source of nectar to many types of bee hoverflies and butterflies, such as the orange tip and brimstone butterfly.
Uses for red campion
The root has been used as a soap substitute for washing clothes and linen, while the seeds have been used to treat snakebites.
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