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Lychnis chalcedonica AGM

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Characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Columnar/Upright

Resilience

Hardiness

old H4 (hardy)

Colour

Flower

Orange and Red in Summer

Foliage

Green in Spring and Summer

Size

Ultimate height

0.5-1 metres

Ultimate spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2-5 years

Preferred common name

Maltese cross

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Lychnis can be biennials or perennials, with simple leaves and tubular, salver-shaped or star-shaped flowers in terminal clusters

L. chalcedonia is an erect herbaceous perennial to 1m in height, with oval leaves and small, bright vermilion flowers in compact, domed heads 10-12cm in width

Other common names

common rose campion
Constantinople campion
cross of Jerusalem
fireball
flower of Bristow
flower of Constantinople
gardener's delight
gardener's eye
great candlestick
Jerusalem cross
knight's cross
London pride
meadow campion
none-such
red robin
scarlet lightning
scarlet lychnis
tears of Christ

Synonym(s)

Lychnis chalcedonica 'Red Cross'

Suppliers

Suppliers listed in RHS Plant Finder

Awards

Award of Garden Merit

How to grow

Sunlight

Full sun
Part shade

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing or West-facing

Sheltered

Cultivation

Grow in moist, fertile soil in sun or partial shade. May require support in windy situations

Soil

Well-drained

Acid, Alkaline or Neutral

Sand, Loam or Chalk

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in spring. Propagate by division or basal cuttings in early spring.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower borders and beds, Wildlife Gardens or Coastal

How to care

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering then cut down in the autumn

Pests

May be attacked by aphids and slugs

Diseases

Generally disease free

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