Silene latifolia subsp. alba - White campion

Silene latifolia subsp. alba, commonly known as the White Campion, is a short-lived perennial or biennial, commonly found along roadsides and paths. It produces masses of white flowers with 5 petals during the summer, some with a swollen calyx, open and fragrant in the evening, on a clump of elliptical green leaves. Visited by numerous moths, this plant has its place in native flower gardens, in a bed or large border. Very hardy and accommodating, it self-sows spontaneously and adapts to all climates.

Silene latifolia subsp. alba, also known as Silene alba, Lychnis alba, Silene pratensis, Melandrium album, belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is a wild plant found up to 1,400 m altitude, along roadsides and paths, hedgerows, in moist to dry and mainly limestone soils. The growth of this perennial is quite rapid, reaching approximately 70 cm to 1 m in height and 30 cm in width at maturity. It develops a woody crown, slightly suckering, and roots that can penetrate up to 1 m deep into the soil. In spring, several erect stems emerge from the crown, adorned with ovate to lanceolate, slightly hairy leaves, with a slightly rubbery texture and a bluish-green colour. The basal leaves can reach up to 12 cm in length. The abundant and prolonged flowering occurs between May and July, depending on the climate. The cyme inflorescence, developing at the top of the stems, is composed of 3 to 20 flowers. Each flower, with 5 star-shaped lobes, measures approximately 3 cm in diameter. The plant is dioecious, with male flowers having a narrow calyx and female flowers with a swollen calyx. The flowers are white. The fruit is a capsule measuring up to 1.4 cm long, concealed in the swelling formed by the fused sepals that persist after flowering. The above-ground vegetation is deciduous and dries up in autumn. Like many other Silenes that do not open before dusk, they emit a strong fragrance that attracts moths from a relatively long distance to come and suck nectar.

Cultivating White Campion, also known as White Silene or Meadow Silene, presents no difficulty, as its cold resistance is excellent and the plant tolerates summer drought well once deeply rooted. There are plenty of association ideas, in a large wild bed, a flowery meadow, or an English-style mixed border. Its bucolic flowering is perfectly enhanced by the wild charm of grasses, as well as by the blue of Perovskias or the red of its American cousin, Silene regia. Asters blooming in summer will also be lovely companions, as well as coneflowers, thistles, or perennial sunflowers, for example, Helianthus salicifolius.

In the kitchen: the flowers and leaves are edible when young, but become bitter and potentially toxic on mature plants due to their saponin content. The young leaves are slightly sweet and can be used in salads, soups, and gratins.