By Martylew
United Kingdom 
I've been donated a perennial plant which is named "Soldier's Buttons", which will apparently have crimson flowers. The leaves are pale green and somewhat velvety in texture.
I can't seem to find anything on the web relating to this plant. Does anybody out there have any knowledge of it please, e.g.where to plant, flowering season and general care?Appreciate some help please.
12 May, 2017
Answers
Soldiers or Bachelors buttons is often used as a common name for Kerria japonica, but that has yellow flowers so its not that. I'm afraid we will need a photograph - common names vary from place to place for plants.
12 May, 2017
Yes, I thought of Santolina for some reason, but they are yellow too!
12 May, 2017
I think it sounds like lychnis coronaria. If so it is a really lovely plant and might seed about a little, the seedings coming red, pink or white. It is not a problem at all and great to have, creating a foil for other plants.
12 May, 2017
Could you mean Bachelor's Buttons or Cornflowers?
Centaurea? These are actually annuals but will readily self sow and come back every year.
12 May, 2017
Ooh, Pennyfarthing, you might be right - Lychnis coronaria has greyish felty leaves with crimson flowers, might well be that.
12 May, 2017
..yet totally un-button like....
12 May, 2017
Well, that's common names for you, don't mean a thing do they really, might as well call a plant Fred.... and many of the original common names get misapplied anyway.
12 May, 2017
Very true Bamboo... using the Latin names means we all know exactly what is being talked or written about!
13 May, 2017
I so agree with you ladies. I have never bothered to learn common names as they are totally confusing. But I do love the Latin and all that..not everyone gets that.
13 May, 2017
Well, the wild flower, known in Sussex as
Bachelors' Buttons, is the red campion, lychnis dioica, also known in some parts of the country as Bridget in her Bravery!! I love the common names and their history, but I agree they are confusing at times.
13 May, 2017
Bridget in her Bravery is a great name PF! :)
14 May, 2017
Interesting all these common names. When we were children (decades ago) Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) was called Soldier's Buttons here in Norfolk, though I can find no reference to that in any of my books!
14 May, 2017
There you go then, Honeysuckle, that's what I meant when I said common names were often misapplied - they should more properly be called local names I reckon.
14 May, 2017
Soldier's Buttons is probably one of several names this plant goes under in English. Can you add a photo to your question please Marty and welcome to GoY.
12 May, 2017