code: 700
This diminutive European alpine
Family: CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Common name: Alpine Catchfly, Alpine campion
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 8 cm
Maximum Height: 13 cm
This diminutive European alpine, very rare in Britain, has dense terminal clusters of twenty or more tufted, dark rosy purple flowers in late spring, held on short sticky stems which arise above compact tufts of grass like foliage.
Sowing advice:
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.
Genus
Lychnis
Species
alpina– L. alpina is a perennial with sticky stems, grass like foliage and dense terminal clusters of tufted, dark pink flowers in late spring.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
WHERE TO GROW
Lychnis alpina (Alpine catchfly) will reach a height of 0.2m and a spread of 0.2m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Rock, Wildlife
Cultivation
Plant in moderately fertile, free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade. Does well in a rock garden.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5
