Culture
Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers moist soil, but will tolerate poor soils with some dryness. Soils must drain well in winter. Consider raised plantings in climates with little snow cover. Best silver foliage color usually occurs in drier soils. A short-lived perennial that may be best grown as a biennial or annual. Freely self-seeds. Deadheading flowers from plant immediately after bloom will prevent any unwanted self-seeding.
GARDENERS’ WORLD is sterile, so self-seeding is not a problem. Although perennial, plants may be somewhat short-lived.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lychnis coronaria, commonly called rose campion, is a clump-forming perennial which is perhaps grown as much for its basal clumps of ovate, densely woolly, silver-gray leaves (to 5" long) as for its 5-petaled, vivid rose magenta flowers (to 1" diameter). Flowers bloom profusely on smaller-leafed, gray stems rising 2-3' tall. Lengthy late spring to early summer bloom period.
Genus name comes from the classical name said to be derived from the Greek word lychnos meaning a lamp possibly referring to the ancient use of leaves of a woolly species for wicks.
Specific epithet means used for garlands or pertaining to garlands.
GARDENERS’ WORLD is an upright, clump-forming rose campion that features rich red double blooms with contrasting silver foliage. It is considered to be a significant improvement over the species in large part because the flowers are larger, the flower color is redder and the plants are sterile. Plants generally grow to 2’ tall featuring attractive, woolly, silver stems and leaves. Basal leaves (to 5” long) are oval to lance-shaped. Smaller stem leaves are in pairs. Carnation-like, intense red, double flowers bloom in early summer. Gardeners’ World is the name of a BBC television show that featured the discovery, promotion and introduction of this specific plant into commerce.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
This perennial is grown as much for its foliage as for its intense flowers. Leaves and flowers provide excellent color and contrast to perennial borders and beds. Interesting effect as a mass planting. If flower stems are cut back after bloom, the foliage will serve as an interesting ground cover (in somewhat the same manner as stachys) for the remainder of the growing season.