Silene latifolia - White Campion

Family:	Caryophyllaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Synonyms:	S. alba. Lychnis alba. L. vespertina. Melandrium album.
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and W. Asia.

Silene latifolia (White Campion) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
White Campion will flower in November to March. the seeds ripen from January to April
The flowers from this plant are dioecious (each plant is either male or female, thus both genders need to be present to seed) and they are pollinated by Lepidoptera

Soil Information

White Campion will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
White Campion prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

White Campion should not be planted in shady areas.

Hedges, waste places and cultivated land[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Will grow in a hedge row

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any good sweet loam in a sunny position[1, 200]. Plants tend to be short-lived and are sometimes only annual[200]. Hybridizes readily with S. dioica[17]. The plant attracts moths[17]. The smut, Ustilago violacea, causes the production of stamens in female flowers, but violet spores of the fungus replace the pollen grains[17]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Known Hazards

Although no mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it does contain saponins. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm. They are also broken down by thorough cooking. Saponins are found in many plants, including several that are often used for food, such as certain beans. It is advisable not to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Other Uses

The root is used as a soap substitute for washing clothes etc[46, 61]. The soap is obtained by simmering the root in hot water.

• Soap - Plants used directly as a soap substitute.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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