White campion.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Herbaceous perennial

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

3 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 8

Bloom time

Late spring to early autumn

Care

This plant thrives in sunny spots with well draining soil. Watch for wilting during dry spells and keep an eye out for common garden pests like aphids. Deadheading spent blooms helps encourage a longer flowering season.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Remove faded flowers regularly to promote new growth.

Repotting

Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.

Soil

Well draining, fertile soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperature

-25 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Short lived perennial, typically 2 to 4 years.

Fragrance

Strong

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

The plant contains saponins which can be irritating if ingested in large quantities.

Children

Keep children away from the seed capsules as they can be a choking hazard if swallowed.

Contact allergens

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to fine hairs.

Airborne allergens

The pollen may trigger mild hay fever symptoms in some people during the peak flowering season.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and may contain saponins that cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

• Five deeply notched white petals
• Inflated green calyx with veins
• Opposite lance shaped hairy leaves
• Sticky stems and foliage

Height

0.3 to 0.8m

Spread

0.2 to 0.4m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, 2 to 3cm

Fruit

brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

• Rust · Fungal infection causing orange pustules on the undersides of leaves.

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The plant dies back to a basal rosette in winter. Simply clear away dead flower stalks in late autumn or early spring.

In containers

It is not typically grown in containers as it has a long taproot that prefers deep, open ground.

Plant in drifts with other meadow wildflowers to support local moth populations.

Grows well with

• Red Campion · They share similar growing conditions and often hybridize in meadow settings.
• Oxeye Daisy · These plants provide a classic wildflower meadow aesthetic.

Similar species

• Red Campion · It is a very close relative with pink flowers instead of white.

Science

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Genus

Silene

Order

Caryophyllales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.

Conservation

It is a common weed in many regions and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed habitats like roadsides and meadows by colonizing bare soil quickly.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

moths, bees

Uses

wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?

It is considered a naturalized weed in North America and can spread quickly in disturbed soil.

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it performs best in full sun to light shade.

Where the name comes from

The name Silene is thought to derive from the Greek woodland deity Silenus, who is often depicted as covered in foam, similar to the sticky secretions of some species in this genus.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as white campion.
• The flowers are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants.
• It often hybridizes with red campion in the wild.