Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguineas - Rose campion seed

Lychnis coronaria 'Atrosanguinea' is a selection of carmine-red rose campion. The flowers form a beautiful contrast with the silvery-green, downy foliage. This short-lived perennial is often grown as a biennial. Capable of flowering from its second year, it keeps a presence in the garden by self-seeding. It is a reliable companion for natural gardens, cottage gardens, or dry gardens. It is grown as much for its brilliance in summer borders as for its flowers, which last surprisingly well in flower arrangements.

Rose Campion 'Atrosanguinea' belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. The botanical species Silene coronaria is native to central and south-eastern Europe, Turkey, and Iran, extending to central Asia and the western Himalayas, where it grows naturally on dry slopes, stony banks, and sunny fallow land. It is known by the names rose campion, coronaria campion, or crown campion.
'Atrosanguinea' refers to a horticultural group selected for the intensity of its colour, marketed under the names Silene coronaria Atrosanguinea Group or Lychnis coronaria 'Atrosanguinea'; some older synonyms are still found, such as Lychnis atropurpurea or Lychnis coronaria atropurpurea. The plant forms a dense basal rosette, then a bushy clump 40 to 50cm wide. The foliage, semi-evergreen in mild climates, is composed of opposite, oval to lanceolate, 5 to 12cm long, thick leaves covered in dense hairs that give them a silky, silvery-grey appearance. From this base, well-branched flowering stems rise, slender but sturdy, bringing the plant's total height to between 60 and 90cm. The flowering period extends from June to August, and can continue into September if faded flowers are regularly removed. Each flower measures 2.5 to 3cm in diameter and has a tubular calyx surrounded by five rounded petals, slightly notched at the tip. In the 'Atrosanguinea' group, these petals take on shades ranging from carmine red to deep magenta. The flowers are highly nectar-rich and visited by numerous butterflies and pollinators. The capsules that follow release a multitude of small brown seeds which self-seed, appreciated in natural gardens.

Rose Campion 'Atrosanguinea' has a rightful place in country borders, scree gardens, sun-drenched mixed borders, and dry gardens. Its silvery foliage weaves a thread of light between other perennials. Sow it in small groups, on top of banks, along the edge of low walls, among medium ornamental grasses or baby sages. Its carmine colour pairs well with blues and purples, as well as with white, soft yellows, or brick red yarrows.

Its former genus name, Lychnis, is said to derive from the Greek "lychnos", meaning oil lamp; the very hairy stems and leaves were once reportedly used as natural wicks, once dried and impregnated with grease.