Viscaria vulgaris dark purple-red-flowered

RHS Plant Profile
sticky catchfly dark purple-red-flowered

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Viscaria vulgaris dark purple-red-flowered?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Synonyms

Lychnis alpina subsp. atropurpurea
Lychnis viscaria subsp. atropurpurea
Silene atropurpurea

Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

A compact tufted perennial to 45cm in height, with sticky stems bearing narrow, dark green leaves, and purple-red flowers 2cm in width in narrow panicles in early and mid summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Chalk, 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

Clay Loam Chalk Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Matforming, 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
Balkan Peninsula

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist fertile soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division or basal cuttings in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering then cut down in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free