Silene banksia 'Molten Lava'

RHS Plant Profile
campion 'Molten Lava'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Silene banksia 'Molten Lava'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Synonyms

Lychnis 'Molten Lava'
Lychnis × haageana 'Molten Lava'

Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

A compact short-lived perennial, to around 25cm high, with green leaves strongly flushed with purple-bronze. Clusters of bright orange-red flowers with notched petals are produced from mid to late summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Silene can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous or evergreen perennials, with opposite, untoothed leaves and solitary or clustered flowers with 5, usually notched petals
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun; will tolerate light shade but foliage colour is better in sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division of established clumps, or by basal softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to encourage further flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, aphids and cuckoo spit

Diseases

Generally disease-free