Commonly known as Rose Campion, Silene Coronaria gives vibrant, vivacious rose pink flowers which persist for months on end from June to October, held above felty, silvery foliage. A perfect border filler and unsurprisingly, winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, its plentiful blooms are also a popular with pollinating insects. A short-lived perennial, that happily self-seeds - so some ‘editing’ may be required!

Sow Silene seeds indoors from February to May, or in October, on the surface of a good quality seed compost and gently firm down. Initially, water the seeds from below and keep the soil damp but not wet and do not exclude light. Place in a propagator or seal the seed tray inside a polythene bag until after germination. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow them on in cooler conditions until large enough to plant outdoors. When Silene plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days and plant out.

As Silene does self-seed, you may also sow seed direct in the autumn. Thin autumn sown seeds before they cease growth for the winter.