Silene dioica (red campion)

Japanese name: レッドキャンピオン
Scientific name: Silene dioica

[Overview]
A biennial or perennial 15–80 cm tall, found in its native range along roadsides, in forests, on rocky slopes and similar places.
The stems and leaves have slightly sticky hairs.
The stem branches freely from the base.
Leaves are simple and opposite, broadly ovate, 3–8 cm long, with entire margins.
The leaves on the lower part of the stem have leaf stalks.
It is dioecious.
Both male and female plants bear cymes at the stem tips with many flowers.
The flowers are 5-petaled, about 1.8–2.5 cm across, and crimson to deep pink.
The petals open flat and are deeply 2-lobed at the tip.
The lower part of the flower is enclosed in a pitcher-shaped calyx marked with dark stripes.
The stripes number 10 in male flowers and 20 in female flowers.
The flowers have no scent.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Uses]
The flowers and leaves are used as an herb in salads, soups and similar dishes.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It also spreads readily from self-sown seed.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
Cultivation is easy.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
For plants in the ground, fertilizer is not particularly necessary; for potted plants, apply slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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