Lychnis Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 30th Oct 2023
In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Lychnis plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.
- Plant Characteristics: Lychnis plants offer strikingly colorful flowers that elevate garden aesthetics.
- Ideal Growing Conditions: TThrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun to partial shade. Regular watering promotes healthy growth.
- General Care: Deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming. Mulching helps to retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Campion is relatively easy to care for, making it a good choice for novices. Use balance watering for optimal growth, and provide good air circulation to help prevent mildew.
Campion, and Catchfly: Cultivation & Garden Use
Members of the Lychnis plant genus can be either half hardy annuals or hardy perennials.
Plants reach from 30 cm to 1.2 m (12 to 50 inches) in height.
Lychnis flos-cuculi - Ragged Robin by Athena's Pix; creative commons.
Lychnis plants display a large range of flowers, from soft pinks to burning shades of red, orange, or purple.
Lychnis chalcedonica by Candiru.
Some of the common names for Lychnis include Campion, Jerusalem cross, Catchfly, Maltese cross, Rose Campion and Scarlet lightning.
Commonly Grown Lychnis Species
Lychnis coronaria
Lychnis coronaria syn. Silene coronaria
Lychnis coronaria (Rose campion / Dusty miller), photograph by Morgaine; CC.
Lychnis chalcedonica
Lychnis chalcedonica syn. Silene chalcedonica
Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese-cross / Scarlet lychnis), picture by Maja Dumat; CC.
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Lychnis Plant Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Campion, Catchfly, Rose of Heaven, Ragged Robin, Dusky Salmon, Maltese Cross, Flower of Jove. Catchfly: White; Sticky; Alpine.Family: Caryophyllaceae.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual. Hardy perennial.
Height: 8 to 40 inches (20 to 100 cm).
Native: Europe, Asia, North Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 2 to 10. Perennial zones 3 to 9.
Flowers: Summer and autumn.
Flower Details: Red, purple, violet, pink, orange. Clustered flowers. Five styles. Usually five petals.
Foliage: Sticky stems. Paired. Oval to lanceolate.
Sow Outside: Surface. Before last frost or in autumn. Spacing 6 to 16 inches (15 to 40 cm).
Sow Inside: Mix seeds in a growing medium, place in a freezer bag, keep moist, then stratify by refrigeration for two weeks. Germination time: three to four weeks in the light. Temperature 70°F (21°C). Two months in advance. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight or partial shade. Good drainage. Soil pH 5 to 7. Moist soil. Prune following the first bloom. Cut perennials back to the ground in autumn. Winter mulch for cooler areas. Propagate: by dividing in spring (cool areas) or autumn (warm areas).
How to Grow Campion, Catchfly, and Rose of Heaven
When growing Campion, and other Lychnis plants, such as Catchfly and Rose of Heaven from seed outdoors, then simply sow on the surface at the start of spring or autumn.
Campion and other Lychnis can grow in partially shaded and sunny parts of the garden that have good drainage. Ideally the soil should be moist and of slightly acidic to neutral pH (5 to 7).
If starting to grow Campion indoors before transplanting, then seeds should be imbibed by placing the seeds (within soil) in a plastic bag, then placing in the fridge for two weeks.
Seeds should then be sown out at a temperature of 21 Celsius (70°F), and grown in the light.
Campion plants normally take about three to four weeks to germinate.
Seedlings should be transplanted following the last frost of spring at a spacing of 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 inches) depending upon the size of the Lychnis species.
Caring for Campion and other Lychnis Plants in the Garden
Once growing, it is easy to look after Campion and other Lychnis plant genus members. If you shear the flowers after they have bloomed they will often bloom a second time.
Once the flowering season is over in the autumn, cut back to ground level. It may be necessary to mulch Lychnis plants in cold areas for protection in the winter.
Common Questions
How many members does the Lychnis genus have?
The Lychnis genus contains about 25 species. These include plants such as Rose Campion and Ragged Robin.
Do members of Lychnis make a good garden or landscaping plant?
Yes, Lychnis plants can be great for gardens or landscapes. They offer bright, showy flowers and are generally easy to care for.
Which Lychnis species are most frequently grown by gardeners?
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) and Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin) are popular choices among gardeners due to their vibrant flowers.
Are members of the Lychnis plant genus fragrant?
While Lychnis plants are not generally known for their fragrance, their vivid flowers are quite attractive to pollinators.
What is the perfect location to grow Lychnis?
Lychnis plants typically prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They're perfect for borders or cottage-style gardens.
Is Lychnis invasive in the USA, if so in which states?
At present, Lychnis species are not considered invasive in the USA.
How do I remove Lychnis plants from my garden?
To remove Lychnis, you can simply pull up the plants. Be sure to get all the roots, and monitor for self-seeding.
Summary
The Lychnis plant genus is a part of the Caryophyllaceae family. It includes annual and perennial plants native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Known for their vibrant, five-petaled flowers, these plants are often used in borders and rock gardens.
Lychnis prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Regular watering is necessary for optimal growth. Propagation is typically done through seeds or division, generally in the spring or fall.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Lychnis plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Agrostemma and Dianthus plants.
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