Overview
Lychnis chalcedonica (Hessenhof Form) is a garden plant in the genus Silene, part of the Caryophyllaceae family. It typically grows around 0.35–1 metres tall and 0.01–0.03 metres wide.
About
Lychnis chalcedonica (Hessenhof Form) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Caryophyllaceae, grown for its clustered bright red flowers. Stems are unbranched and typically 35–100 cm tall, bearing opposite, broadly lanceolate leaves. Flower clusters hold 10–50 individual blooms, each 1–3 cm across with a deeply five-lobed corolla. The fruit is a dry capsule that contains numerous seeds.
About the genus
Silene is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Containing between 500 and 900 species, it is the largest genus in the family. Common names include campion and catchfly.
Wikipedia contributors, "Silene", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Silene
In the garden
Lychnis chalcedonica (Hessenhof Form) belongs to the Caryophyllaceae and sits in the genus Silene; it is native to Eurasia and has long been cultivated as an ornamental, receiving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Plants produce upright, unbranched stems 35–100 cm tall with opposite, broadly lanceolate leaves measuring around 2–12 cm long. Flowering is from June to September, when clusters of 10–50 bright red flowers open along the stems. In a mixed herbaceous border the height and habit suit positions toward the middle or rear, where the clustered blooms are visible above lower neighbours. Individual flowers are 1–3 cm across and show a deeply five-lobed corolla, each lobe further split; after flowering the plant produces a dry capsule. The combination of its summer flowering season and the Maltese-cross form of each corolla is why it remains a garden favourite and an RHS-recognised cultivar. The dry seed capsule that follows each cluster contains numerous seeds, a distinctive reproductive feature of the species.
Plant details
Lychnis chalcedonica (Hessenhof Form) size, habit and characteristics
- Height
- 0.35–1 metres
- Spread
- 0.01–0.03 metres
Frequently asked questions
How big does Lychnis chalcedonica (Hessenhof Form) grow?
Lychnis chalcedonica (Hessenhof Form) reaches a height of 0.35–1 metres and a spread of 0.01–0.03 metres.
