Code:508
This is the dark purple form of the exceedingly rare British native
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Common name: Red Catchfly, Clammy campion, Lychnis viscaria atropurpurea
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 30 cm
Maximum Height: 45 cm
This is the dark purple form of the very rare British native which is both soundly perennial and beautiful. In midsummer, massed panicles of purple-red flowers are held atop strong thin stems, which are indeed, sticky enough to trap the odd small fly (to no obvious advantage unless you know the reason why, which we don’t!).
Sowing advice:
For best results, sow seeds immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. However, we sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, and often wait for spring before emerging regardless of when they are sown. But spring sowing will obviously give them a full season of growth if successful germination occurs.
*Lychnis viscaria is said to increase the disease resistance of surrounding plants. Extract from L. viscaria contains a relatively high amount of brassinosteroids, which have a proven positive effect on the growth of other plants.
