Rose Campion

Silene coronaria

Found in disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

—

Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height: 2–3 feet
Spread: 16–24 inches
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to somewhat dry

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At a glance

Life cycle: Annual, biennial or perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: May to July

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Recorded in 18 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Silene

Hadena capsularisCapsule Moth
Hadena ectypaCampion Coronet
Lacinipolia renigeraBristly Ground Cat, Bristly Cutworm Moth, Kidney Spotted "Mamestra"
Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

13BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Silene

Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
Haemorhous mexicanusHouse Finch
Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
Lagopus leucuraWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Leucosticte atrataBlack Rosy-Finch
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting

Show all 13

Spinus psaltriaLesser Goldfinch
Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–10b
Flower color: Pink, purple, red or white

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Pink, purple, red or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “2–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Annual, biennial or perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Occasionally dry; Very dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “16–24 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Lychnis coronaria; Mullein Pink

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source