Red campion (Silene dioica) is found throughout Britain,
preferring rich soils at the edges of woods or in hedgerows. However, it is
also found in less conducive places, such as mountain ledges. Although a wild
flower, it is often left alone when it gets into gardens because of its showy
display of colour during the early summer.
Red campion throws up non-flowering shoots separately from
flower stems. The plant can reach a height of 36 inches (90 centimetres). The
lower leaves grow on long stalks.
The “dioica” part of the botanical name means “two houses”,
because red campion plants only produce flowers of one sex or the other, which
means that a plant growing in complete isolation cannot produce seed. Female
flowers have no stamens and male flowers have a non-functioning ovary.
Whatever the sex of the plant, red campion produces a large
number of bright red flowers in May and June. The petals are deeply divided and
have an inner ring of white flaps. The brown sepals form a sticky tube at the
base of the flower.
Although red campion is scentless, the related white campion
does have a faint scent. The two types can hybridise to produce plants with
pink flowers, and the hybrids will also be fertile. This can lead to a variety
of shades from pure white to deep red.
© John Welford
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