Lychnis viscaria splendens

‘Feuer’

FIREBIRD CATCHFLY

Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’
FIREBIRD CATCHFLY

Clusters of rich rose flowers give pretty Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’ the common name of Firebird.
And this little bird blazes with flowers in summer & autumn.

Rosy garden glow plus cut flowers

Blooms also make good cut flowers, as well as making a show in the garden with their lovely rosy colouring.

Tough as nails

Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’ is as tough as nails, despite the gentle rosy glow and polite little clump of neat foliage.
So it is perfectly happy in either Full Sun to Part Shade.
Where it makes a neat, low clump of narrow foliage, with the flowers borne high above on clean stems.
Though the stems are sticky, hence the common name of Catchfly for most of the Lychnis family. Garden lore also has it that Lychnis are  a boon to the health of nearby plants because they attract and trap sap sucking insects on their sticky stems.

Water-wise & frost hardy

Tough little Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’ is robustly frost hardy, and can thrive in a wide range of soils, including sandy, gravel, rocky or ground with poorer fertility.
Though it does appreciate being well drained.
And so it can manage on a low watering regime, and is well suited to gardeners with limited water supply.

Tough, easy, low maintenance

Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’ is easy to grow & low maintenance.
The only possible work is to trim back the spent flowering stems in the summer to encourage even more continuous flushes of bloom.

Perfect neat edge or groundcover

Because Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’ forms such a neat perennial clump of evergreen foliage, it makes an excellent front edge to a garden bed.
Or you can plant several clumps to make a groundcover under roses and taller plants.
And it is “splendens” in a decorative pot.

Evergreen perennial clump.
60cm High in flower x 30cm Wide flat rosette of tufty foliage.

SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow indoors at any time / or scatter in the garden in spring or autumn.

INDOORS: Sow seeds in punnets on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then press the seeds seeds gently to the mix surface, but do not cover.
Because these seeds need light for germination.

First moisten thoroughly.
Then keep the sown punnet moist in well-lit position (not in direct sun) or on heat mat with clear plastic lid.

Temperatures around 20°C. are optimum for rapid germination.

Seeds germinate in 10-20 days.

SEED COUNT: 800 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

GROWING: Lychnis viscaria splendens ‘Feuer’

– Height with flowers: 60cm approx.
– Width: 30cm approx. wide neat, low foliage clump.
– Position: Full Sun, Partial Shade, Woodland, Dappled Sun.
– Soil: Tolerates a range of soil conditions.
– Fragrant: None.
– Frost: Hardy.
– Growth: Evergreen perennial clump.
– Good for Wildlife: Birds, Bees, Butterflies and other pollinators love dining form the sweet, nectar rich flower heads.
– Deer & Rabbit resistant: Resistant to rabbit and deer. Perhaps they don’t like the sticky stems.
– Care: Easy care, Low maintenance. Deadhead the spent flowers, to promote continuous flushes of blooms in summer.
– Origin: Native to central and eastern Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northwestern China.

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