When Jefferson noted the "Lychnis bloom" at Shadwell in 1767, he was probably referring to the wooly-leaved Rose Campion, a popular perennial in early American gardens. Rose Campion was sold by Bernard McMahon, the Philadelphia nurseryman, in 1804.

Rose Campion grows to two or three feet in full sun. It has attractive magenta and white flowers as well as ornamental, silver foliage that resembles a Lamb's Ear. Seeds should be planted in well-drained soil during the growing season for flowers the following year. USDA Zones 3-8.

Line Drawing by Lucia Stanton. zone3, zone4, zone5, zone6, zone7, zone8