Viscaria alpina

RHS Plant Profile

alpine catchfly

John Fielding

Other common names

alpine campion, rock lychnis

Synonyms

Lychnis alpina 'Serpenticola'
Lychnis alpina subsp. americana
Lychnis alpina
Lychnis alpina var. serpentinicola
Viscaria alpina subsp. americana
Silene suecica

Alpine Rockery

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A dwarf, tufted perennial to 15cm high with oblong to lance-shaped dark green leaves and dense, rounded, terminal clusters of purple-pink flowers in late spring to early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: A genus of low-growing flowering plants with thin, ovate green foliage and clusters of pretty pink, white or purple flowers on sticky, upright stems. A deep taproot makes this a genus which can survive drought conditions
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: E Canada, N & C Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Well suited for rock gardens and troughs. Plant in moderately fertile, well drain soil in full sun or light shade. May be short-lived, but will often self-seed

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Sow as soon as ripe or in winter-spring. Seeds benefit from exposure to cold to break their dormancy

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Rock garden

Pruning

Deadhead to promote further flowering. Cut back in the autumn

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free