Wood Campion Plant Care
Lychnis silvestris Rafn
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Silene dioica, known as red campion and red catchfly, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe and introduced to the Americas.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Wood Campion?
Water Wood Campion every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Wood Campion Native To?
- Albania
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
What Is the Wood Campion?
Wood Campion (Lychnis silvestris) belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family within the Lychnis genus. Wood Campion is native to Europe and introduced to the Americas.
Wood Campion displays a clumping herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Wood Campion produces showy clusters of pink, red, or white flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Wood Campion?
Lychnis silvestris requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Wood Campion Need?
Wood Campion thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Wood Campion Prefer?
Lychnis silvestris grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Wood Campion prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wood Campion?
Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Wood Campion to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Wood Campion?
Feed Wood Campion every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Wood Campion?
Divide and replant every 3-4 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Wood Campion?
Wood Campion can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to siberian lychnis plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Wood Campion Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Wood Campion, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Wood Campion?
Wood Campion is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, slugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Wood Campion Need?
Wood Campion grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4a – 8b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4a. Wood Campion is native to Europe and introduced to the Americas.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 4a – 8b
Keep exploring plants
Wood Campion is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Lychnis genus — compare its care with other Lychnis species on PlantoScan.
Lychnis is part of the Caryophyllaceae plant family — browse all Caryophyllaceae genera and species.
Wood Campion thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Lychnis silvestris Rafn, family Caryophyllaceae (first published in Danm. Holst. Fl. 2: 790 (1800)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Wood Campion, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 4a – 8b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Wood Campion Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species