How big does Rose campion grow?

About 80 cm × 45 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1 m × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Rose campion grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, clay.

Is Rose campion hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Rose campion flower?

Flowering: May–July, pink, purple, white.

How much water does Rose campion need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Rose campion

Lychnis coronaria

Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) is a perennial that reaches 80 cm × 45 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about PLN 18.

Illustration of Rose campion — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Above rosettes of silver-grey, felted leaves it opens vivid magenta (in some forms white) flowers on branching grey stems in early summer. It is short-lived, often lasting only two or three years, but it self-seeds freely, so a planting renews itself: surplus seedlings are easy to pull, and if you do not want it to wander, cut the stems down after flowering. It looks best in a sunny, dry, even poor soil, where the leaves are at their most silver.

Watch out for

Short-lived: a plant disappears after a few years, but seedlings replace it. It rots in soil that stays wet in winter. It seeds around heavily and turns up in gravel and neighbouring beds. Slugs may chew the young leaves. Wild populations are protected in Hungary, so plant only nursery-grown plants or seed.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 80 cm × 45 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–July, pink, purple, white

All details

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	80 cm × 45 cm
Ultimate size	0.6–1 m × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Clay
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	May–July, pink, purple, white
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	35 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about PLN 18

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. PLN 18

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant perennials Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Perennials for clay soil Perennials for pollinators Low-maintenance perennials Plants for a Mediterranean garden

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