White Campion
Silene latifolia
Also listed as Melandrium latifolium
Also known as White Cockle, Evening Lychnis, Evening Catchfly
Climate Match for your location
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White campion is a tall, slender perennial with fragrant white flowers that open in the evening and attract night-flying pollinators. It thrives in poor, well-drained soils and can become weedy in disturbed areas.
Why grow it
White campion offers a source of evening-fragrant flowers in situations where other Silene species might struggle, particularly in lean, freely-draining soils where many ornamentals decline. Its night-blooming habit and nocturnal pollinator attraction make it useful for gardens designed around twilight activity, though it produces smaller flower displays than some cultivated Lychnis alternatives. The plant establishes readily from seed and requires minimal input once established.
Watch out for
White campion readily self-seeds and may dominate intended planting areas if seed heads are not managed before ripening. The plant can spread vigorously in disturbed ground and gaps within other plantings, requiring periodic removal if containment is desired. Flowering extends late into the season, which can extend the period for unwanted seedling recruitment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
Native Range
Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
White campion is a tall, slender perennial with fragrant white flowers that open in the evening and attract night-flying pollinators. It thrives in poor, well-drained soils and can become weedy in disturbed areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well White Campion grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
White campion offers a source of evening-fragrant flowers in situations where other Silene species might struggle, particularly in lean, freely-draining soils where many ornamentals decline. Its night-blooming habit and nocturnal pollinator attraction make it useful for gardens designed around twilight activity, though it produces smaller flower displays than some cultivated Lychnis alternatives. The plant establishes readily from seed and requires minimal input once established.
Watch out for
White campion readily self-seeds and may dominate intended planting areas if seed heads are not managed before ripening. The plant can spread vigorously in disturbed ground and gaps within other plantings, requiring periodic removal if containment is desired. Flowering extends late into the season, which can extend the period for unwanted seedling recruitment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
Native Range
Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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