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White Campion

©Brett Lewis/2020VISION

White campion

Scientific name: Silene latifolia
At night, the pretty, white blooms of white campion produce a heady scent, attracting feeding moths. Look for this wildflower along hedgerows and roadside verges, and on waste ground.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 1m

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

May to October

About

White campion is a common wildflower that grows in fields, along hedgerows and roadside verges, and on waste ground. It flowers throughout the summer, but it's actually at night when the blooms produce a heady scent, attracting many feeding moths.
White campion is often a perennial plant, which means it can live for a number of years, growing again each spring; but it can also be a short-lived annual or biennial.

How to identify

White campion displays white flowers with five petals, each deeply notched and almost divided into two; its oval leaves and stems are hairy. In places where it grows alongside red campion, the two may hybridise to produce pinky or white blooms.

Distribution

Found throughout the UK, but most common in England.

Habitats

Did you know?

White campion is sometimes called the 'Grave Flower' or 'Flower of the Dead' as it can be seen growing in graveyards and around tombstones.

How people can help

Although they might not look especially wildlife-friendly, our roadside verges, railway cuttings and waste grounds can provide valuable habitats for all kinds of plants and animals. The Wildlife Trusts are involved in many projects to make these places as beneficial for wildlife as possible. We have a vision of a Living Landscape: a network of habitats stretching across town and country that allow wildlife to move about freely and people to enjoy the benefits of nature. Support this greener vision for the future by joining your local Wildlife Trust.