Simple Campion: A Rare Arizona Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re a native plant enthusiast always on the lookout for something truly special, you might want to learn about simple campion (Silene scouleri pringlei var. eglandulosa). This perennial wildflower is one of those plants that makes you feel like you’ve discovered a hidden gem – mainly because information about it is surprisingly scarce!
What Makes Simple Campion Special
Simple campion belongs to the carnation family and is classified as a forb – basically a fancy botanical term for a non-woody flowering plant. As a perennial, it comes back year after year, which is always a win in my book. What makes this particular variety fascinating is how localized it appears to be.
Where You’ll Find This Desert Dweller
This native beauty calls Arizona home, making it a true Southwestern specialist. Being native to the lower 48 states, it’s perfectly adapted to life in the American desert landscape, though its exact distribution within Arizona remains somewhat mysterious.
The Mystery Plant Dilemma
Here’s where things get interesting (and slightly frustrating): reliable information about this specific variety is incredibly hard to come by. We’re talking about a plant that’s so specialized or rare that it hasn’t made it into most gardening guides or even many botanical databases. This could mean several things:
- It might be extremely rare in the wild
- It could be a very recent taxonomic classification
- It may be so geographically restricted that few people have studied it
- It might hybridize easily with other campion species
Should You Try Growing Simple Campion?
This is where I need to pump the brakes a bit. Without knowing the rarity status of this plant, I can’t recommend rushing out to find and plant it. If it’s rare in the wild, we definitely don’t want to contribute to its decline by collecting it inappropriately.
However, if you do encounter this plant through reputable native plant societies or specialized growers who can verify its source, it could be an incredible addition to a native Arizona garden. Just make sure any plants you acquire are ethically sourced and not collected from wild populations.
General Care for Campion Species
While I can’t give you specific growing tips for this particular variety, campions in general tend to be relatively low-maintenance once established. They typically prefer:
- Well-draining soil (crucial in desert environments)
- Full sun to partial shade
- Minimal supplemental watering once established
- Good air circulation to prevent fungal issues
The Bigger Picture
Sometimes the most valuable plants in our native landscapes are the ones we know least about. Simple campion serves as a reminder that there’s still so much to discover about our native flora. Whether it’s a rare gem hiding in Arizona’s wild places or simply an under-documented variety, it represents the incredible diversity of plants that call our deserts home.
If you’re passionate about native plants and live in Arizona, consider connecting with local botanical societies or native plant groups. They might have more information about this elusive campion and other rare natives in your area. Who knows? You might even help contribute to our understanding of this mysterious little wildflower.
After all, every garden tells a story, and sometimes the most interesting stories are about the plants we’re still learning to understand.
