What hardiness zones is Lychnis coronaria suitable for?

Lychnis coronaria is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

What are the sun requirements for Lychnis coronaria?

Lychnis coronaria requires Full Sun.

How much water does Lychnis coronaria need?

Lychnis coronaria has Very Low water needs.

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Perennials

Lychnis coronaria

rose campion

Caryophyllaceae

Southeastern Europe (Balkans, Greece, Turkey) and western Asia

At a Glance

TypeBiennial

HabitUpright

FoliageSemi-evergreen

Height24-36 inches (60-90 cm)

Width12-18 inches (30-45 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 8

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Deer Resistant

Drought Tolerant

Maintenancevery low

Overview

A biennial or short-lived perennial in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to southeastern Europe and western Asia, widely naturalized across temperate regions. Plants form basal rosettes of oval to elliptic leaves densely covered in soft, white-woolly hairs that give them a distinctive silver-gray appearance throughout the growing season. In the second year (or first year from early-sown seed), branching stems 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) tall rise from the rosette, each clothed in smaller woolly leaves and bearing numerous vivid cerise-magenta flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across with five slightly notched petals. The contrast between the silver-woolly stems and foliage and the saturated magenta flowers is striking and unusual. White-flowered ('Alba') and bicolor forms (white with pink eye, 'Oculata') are also grown. Plants are short-lived, typically flowering in their second year then dying, but self-seed prolifically in well-drained soils to maintain self-perpetuating colonies. The woolly foliage is highly ornamental even when plants are not in flower. Mildly toxic to dogs and cats.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Europe (Balkans, Greece, Turkey) and western Asia, growing on dry, rocky slopes, open scrub, and disturbed ground, typically in well-drained, often calcareous, poor soils in full sun. Widely naturalized in western Europe, the British Isles, and parts of North America.

Suggested Uses

Planted in dry borders, cottage gardens, gravel gardens, and Mediterranean-style plantings at 12–18 inch (30–45 cm) spacing. The silver woolly foliage is a valuable contrast plant throughout the season, long before or after flowering. Combine with other silver-leaved plants (artemisia, stachys) and warm-toned flowers (achillea, helenium) for a drought-tolerant border. An excellent gap-filler that self-sows into bare spaces.

How to Identify

Identified by oval leaves and stems densely covered in soft, white-woolly (tomentose) hairs that give the whole plant a silver-gray appearance, combined with vivid cerise-magenta (or white) five-petaled flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across. The strongly contrasting silver foliage and saturated magenta flowers are diagnostic. The woolly rosette is distinctive even before flowering.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

magenta

pink

white

Foliage Colors

silver

gray

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

Blooms June through August in zones 4–8, with individual plants flowering over 4–8 weeks in their second year before setting seed and dying. In mild climates, early-sown seeds may produce flowering plants in their first year. Self-sown seedlings flower the following year, creating a continuous population. Deadheading prevents self-seeding; allowing seed set renews the colony.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

vivid cerise-magenta; also white ('Alba') and bicolor white-with-pink-eye ('Oculata')

Foliage Description

silver-gray; densely covered in soft white-woolly hairs

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sandchalkloamrocky

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun in poor to average, sharply drained, neutral to alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0–8.0. Thrives in dry, lean conditions where many perennials struggle. Rich or moist soils produce weak, floppy plants with poorer flower color and reduced longevity. Drought-tolerant once established. Allow plants to self-seed freely to maintain the colony — individual plants are biennial or short-lived perennial. Thin self-sown seedlings to 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) apart. In the Pacific Northwest, excellent garden performance due to good drainage tolerance and cool summers.

Pruning

Deadhead regularly to prolong the flowering period and prevent excessive self-seeding where not desired. Leave some flower heads to set seed to maintain the self-seeding colony — the primary propagation strategy for this short-lived plant. Cut flowering stems to the basal rosette after seed set. The basal rosette may overwinter and produce another flowering stem the following year in some conditions. Remove spent plants entirely after seed set is complete.

Pruning Schedule

summerfall

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets