Where does red campion grow?

Any family countryside ramble will bring to life this occasion enjoying the bright pink-magenta flowers of red campion (Silene dioica), which blooms in the hedgerows from May to September, sometimes beyond, depending on the seasonal climate.

This beauty, which has to be one of my favourites, can also be found colonising urban spaces, woodlands and grasslands, meadows, waste ground, tracks and pathways, so it's a versatile wildflower species. This beautiful wildflower tolerates most soils, and prefers dappled sunlight and partial shade. 

Red campion is widespread throughout the UK, and native to Europe. It belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae, and is the cousin of the stunning pink wildflower ragged-robin (Silene flos-cuculi), seen on the right below. Closely related is the less common white campion, on the left below, which is more widespread in Eastern England. 

Whilst you're out looking for this wildflower gem in the hedgerows and all those other locations, also keep your eyes peeled for it in damp ditch areas, as it's fond of these spots too, as is the case with ragged-robin. Unfortunately, ragged-robin is a near threatened species in some areas of England and of conservation concern due to habitat loss and decline – thankfully, that's not the case with red campion. 

How to identify red campion  

The delightful pink flowers of red campion are approximately 1.5-2.5 cm across, and this wildflower can grow up to 1 metre tall. The leaves are oval shaped, soft to the touch, with fine hairs covering the leaves and stems. This is evident at close quarters on a sunny day.

The structure of red campion is interesting. The pink flowers usually grow in pairs at the end of slender stalks, which branch from the main stem. It can also be observed that a single flower can be seen growing on a single stalk in between two pairs on much larger stalks. 

The petals of red campion flowers are almost divided into two; there are five petals, each comprising a deep notch in the centre. They are flat and open around the rim of the reddish-green cup formed by the sepals (the outer green leaf).  

Within the centre of the cup of flowers comprises a green seed vessel where the petals join. The stems of red campion are reddish and sticky, and the leaves grow opposite each other in pairs; these clasp the stem. 

Which insects are attracted to red campion? 

Red campion flowers play a vital role in supporting a wide range of pollinating insects, making it a valuable plant for wildlife in the UK.

Bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and moths are attracted and drawn to the nectar-rich flowers, including the hummingbird hawk-moth, a striking day-flying moth that migrates from Southern Europe to the UK for the summer months. This moth has a distinctive hovering flight while feeding on flowers, often seen in gardens. 

Other moth species that are drawn to red campion include rivulet and lychnis moths, which amazingly feed on the seeds within the seed capsules. In fact, over 30 species of insects are associated with this lovely wildflower. 

As an example of insect life in association with red campion, the rivulet moth (Operophtera brumata) has a life cycle that spans autumn to spring. Adult moths emerge during late autumn/winter to lay their eggs, the eggs hatch in spring, and the caterpillars feed on the leaves of the red campion until they mature and pupate into the soil. 

Other moth species associated with Red Campion include:  

Campion moth (Sideridis rivularis)

Lychnis moth (Hadena bicruris) 

Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) 

Marbled Coronet moth (Hadena confusa)

Like most plants and wildflowers, red campion also plays host to insects that have detrimental effects, which is all part of nature's cycle. As an example, gall midges and leaf mining flies can cause abnormal growth and damage to leaf tissue. 

How to look after red campion throughout the year

The decorative seed capsules of this gem of a wildflower remain on the dead plants through the winter. As a result, this creates a refuge for ladybirds to hibernate. Because of this, I always leave any plants that have naturalised into the garden area through the winter months. 

After the seed heads have gone over during the late autumn/ winter period, I prune the stems back and incorporate them onto the composting area, if you have one. The natural dispersal of the seeds during the late summer to early autumn will already be going to work, bedding into the soil to produce a new cycle of growth during late winter to early spring, when fresh green leaves will start to appear. The natural re-seeding process is prolific.  

During the dormant period, after the main plant structure has died back through the natural countryside process, or been cut back in our gardens, the roots remain below the soil, ready to emerge again in the early spring, as well as the new growth regenerated from natural seed dispersal. 

More information on growing and caring for red campion is available here from Gardeners' World: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/red-campion/