Lychnis (Lychnis Arkwrightii Vesuvius) - Grow this attractive plant from Lychnis seeds and have both gorgeous orange-red blooms and purple colored foliage. The combination is striking! This flowering Lychnis plant commands attention when it's in bloom during the summer months, and hummingbirds cannot stay away from the brightly colored flowers! Commonly, this perennial is called Arkwright's Campion.

This Arkwright's Campion plant grows 16 - 20 inches tall, with erect stems and is hardy in zones 3 - 10 in normal environmental conditions. Arkwright's Campion flowers are a brilliant orange-scarlet color like molten lava flowing from the volcano, Mt. Vesuvius (hence the name), and they are simple in form with 5 deeply notched petals measuring 1 1/4 - 2 inches across.

Sow Lychnis seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost is expected. Use well-draining starter soil. Sow the Lychnis seeds on the surface, lightly covered. Keep seed continuously moist until germination. Some gardeners will cover with plastic wrap to keep humidity high. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost. Lychnis care includes watering deeply throughout the growing season, mulching around the base to keep the roots cool, and deadheading spent blooms to prolong the blooming season. Let the last blooms go to seed so that Lychnis can re-seed itself. If re-seeding is not desired, cut the stems back down to basal growth after blooming.

Lychnis (Lychnis Chalcedonica) - This Lychnis, also known as Maltese Cross or Jerusalem Cross, is easily established by sowing Lychnis seeds. Maltese Cross Lychnis Chalcedonica is an heirloom flower that has been grown in American gardens since Colonial times. Its scarlet colored bloom clusters begin in June and continue through August. Hummingbirds cannot leave the blooms alone!

Maltese Cross Lychnis has long been popular in cottage gardens. It is a hardy and easy perennial for any sunny border. Plants form an upright clump of bright green leaves, with taller stems that bear the clusters of scarlet-orange flowers. Jerusalem Cross Lychnis is excellent for cutting, and they are reliable and long-lived.

Sow Lychnis seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost is expected. Use well-draining starter soil. Sow the Lychnis seeds on the surface, lightly covered. Keep seed continuously moist until germination. Some gardeners will cover with plastic wrap to keep humidity high. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost and when seedlings are 2 inches tall. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong blooming season. Red Maltese Cross flowers may bloom the first year from flower seed if started early indoors. Lychnis care includes watering deeply throughout the growing season, mulching around the base to keep the roots cool, and deadheading spent blooms to prolong the blooming season.

Lychnis (Lychnis Coronaria) - This Lychnis is also known as Rose Campion, and it is easily established from Lychnis seeds. It is erect with many-branches that have softly wooly, silver-gray leaves and stems. The plant gets 28 - 32 inches tall with a spread of 12 - 24 inches. The first year it will only produce a few blooms, but in the second year of establishment, Lychnis Rose Campion blooms with a profusion producing many long-stemmed rose to red colored trumpet-shaped flowers. They measure an inch across and just as long. A synonymous botanical name is Silene coronaria, and another common name is Mullein Pink.

Mullein Pink Rose Campion is well-loved for its long bloom season. This Lychnis plant begins blooming in late spring and lasts throughout the summer. The rosy-red Rose Campion flower is a beautiful contrast with the silvery foliage. Lychnis Coronaria Rose Campion plants perform well in both full sun or partial shade, and they are deer resistant.

Grow Lychnis Coronaria from flower seeds. Start Lychnis seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost is expected. Use well-draining starter soil. Sow the Lychnis seeds on the surface, lightly covered. Keep seed continuously moist until germination. Some gardeners will cover with plastic wrap to keep humidity high. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost and when seedlings are 2 inches tall. Lychnis care includes watering deeply throughout the growing season, mulching around the base to keep the roots cool, and deadheading spent blooms to prolong the blooming season. Let the last blooms go to seed so that Lychnis can re-seed itself. If re-seeding is not desired, cut the stems back down to basal growth after blooming.

Lychnis (Lychnis Viscaria Splendens Rosett) - Also called Catchfly, this is a lower growing form of Lychnis which is easy to start from Lychnis seeds. Lychnis Viscaria Catchfly is known for exceptional hardiness, and it is tolerant of poor soils and little water. The Catchfly plant has foliage that is oval, to oblong shaped with dark green leaves 3 inches long with sticky un-branched stems. Lychnis Catchfly blooms from early to mid-summer with many rose-pink flowers that are 1 inch across. Often, the Catchfly flowers will remain through first frost.

Sow Lychnis seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost is expected. Use well-draining starter soil. Sow the Catchfly seeds on the surface, lightly covered. Keep seed continuously moist until germination. Some gardeners will cover with plastic wrap to keep humidity high. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost and when seedlings are 2 inches tall. Catchfly care includes deadheading the spent blooms to prolong the blooming season. This hardy perennial plant grows to make a clump and grows horizontally and low to the ground. It requires a moist and rich soil, preferring full sun. It is susceptible to and should be protected from slugs and snails.