# red campion (*Silene dioica*) Red campion is a pretty flower with bright pink petals that bloom in spring and summer. It loves to grow in meadows and woodlands, adding color to nature's canvas. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Woodlands - **Also known as:** Campion, Silene ![red campion](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426313/objects/810.jpg) ## Appearance The red campion has vibrant, rosy-pink flowers with five deeply notched petals that often look like ten. Its stems are hairy and reddish, giving the plant a slightly fuzzy appearance, distinguishing it from other similar pink wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Silene ## Interesting facts - Its 'campion' name likely comes from 'champion,' referring to flowers given to victors. - Look closely! Some plants only have male flowers, while others have only female flowers. - Red campion flowers smell sweetest in the evening to attract night-flying pollinators. - Tiny seeds escape from a capsule that looks like a miniature crown when ripe. ## Special abilities - **Separate Genders Power:** Red campion has separate male and female plants, allowing for diverse genetic mixing that helps it adapt to new environments. - **Hairy Shield:** Red campion's stems are covered in fine hairs, acting like a tiny shield that helps protect it from hungry insects. - **Night-Time Nectar:** Red campion flowers offer nectar in the evening too, attracting both day-flying insects and nocturnal moths. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Drinks nectar and collects pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Drinks nectar and helps spread pollen. - **Pollinates:** Lychnis moth (*Hadena bicruris*) — Visits flowers for nectar, aiding reproduction. - **Parasitizes:** Anther smut fungus (*Microbotryum violaceum*) — Infects the flowers, altering their appearance. ## Traits - [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify red campion? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is red campion? 30-90 cm ### How wide does red campion spread? 30-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on red campion? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does red campion bloom? Late spring to late summer ### Is red campion edible? No ### Is red campion toxic? Mild ### What is red campion's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Harraseeket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harraseeket-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Marion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marion) — Connecticut, US · Neighborhood - [Monkey World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-world) — England, GB · Zoo - [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo - [Knowsley Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knowsley-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo [View all places to see red campion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-campion) ## Watch - [Play video: red campion](https://www.snappit.app/videos/red-campion) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=nERNqnuQrV8) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Red Campion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-campion)