Description
Botanical Information: White Campion
White campion are a biennial or short-lived perennial plant. Young plants appear as basal rosettes of oval to lanceolate leaves and as the plant ages, forked stems with opposite leaves will grow from 0.5-1 metres tall, with clusters of flowers growing from the tops of the stems. These flowers emerge in summertime, and are, as the name suggests, white with five petals. The species is dioecious, meaning that there are separate male and female flowers. White campion will hybridise with red campion, which can result in light pink flowers.
Habitat
You will find white campion growing in sunny and partially shaded areas that have rich and well drained soil. It is found in most open habitats, including wastelands, arable fields, roadside verges and hedgerows.
Benefits to Wildlife
The flowers of white campion produce a scent at night, which helps attract night-flying moths to pollinate the plant. The corolla tube is constricted below the base of the petals, which is to prevent crawling insects from entering the flower whilst allowing long-tongued bees and butterflies to continue pollination. Some short-tongued bees feel as if they are missing out on the nectar, so have resulted in making holes near the base of the flower tube to get their fill.
Conservation Status in the UK
White campion is listed on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern. It is widespread across the UK but it is subject to threats from herbicides and changes in land use.
Ease of Growing
Plant your white campion in a sunny or partially shaded area with well-drained soil. Make sure you keep it watered during dry spells. Each plant can produce around 5000 seeds, which can survive in soil for up to 20 years if exposed to favourable conditions.
More Information
Species From the Same Habitat
Nottingham Catchfly | Silene nutans
Valerian | Valeriana officinalis
Vipers Bugloss | Echium vulgare
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