Rose Campion

Day 269: Rose Campion (Silene coronaria) is one of the survivors from the various packages of mixed wildflower seed I've thrown into the Barren Wasteland over the years. Those "regional" mixes often include species which may be considered invasive in certain areas of their specified "region" (an example would be California Poppies, included in almost all blends for the Pacific Northwest), and they often include non-native, non-aggressive species as well. I have found that Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susans) will quickly dominate any space, so every few years, I pull out the older plants, leaving a few to keep the colour going. Rose Campion has never been a problem, although it's spread within the confines of the Wasteland itself. Pink or not, I enjoy its bright eyes, borne on stems two feet or more in height, with soft, fuzzy, silvery foliage. I always allow it to go to seed where it stands since it is so well-behaved.