California Indian Pink (Wild Campion)
Silene californica. CARYOPHYLLACEAE.
Planting and Growing California Indian Pink
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow California Indian pink in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of California Indian pink
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for California Indian pink
- Season of bloom and planting time for California Indian pink
- When, how deep, and where to plant California Indian pink
- How to plant California Indian pink
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of California Indian pink
- Landscape and container uses of California Indian pink
- Comments about California Indian pink and its features
Growing California Indian Pink
Several cultivars of erect, branching, deciduous perennial herbs, 2–4 ft. (60–120 cm) tall. Textured, deep or gray green, narrow, oval, pointed, wavy-edged leaves, 3–4 in. (75–100 mm) long.
Fire-pink catchfly, Silene virginica; moss campion, Silene shafta; and viscaria, Silene coeli-rosaare, are closely related species with similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, scarlet red, irregular, many-petaled, hairy, fringed flowers 1‑1/2‑in. (38‑mm) wide, in sparse to full clusters on stiff stalks, in late spring.
Best Climates
Hardy. Plant as annual, zones 2–4; ground hardy, zones 5–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average. 6.5–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 6–8 in. (15–20 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Drought tolerant. Fertilize annually in spring. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, banks, beds, borders in cottage, meadow, natural, seaside, wildlife gardens. Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. Pest and disease resistant.