At the beginning of June, the garden’s spotlight is captured by the cheerful Lychnis coronaria, featuring bright magenta flowers on tall, upright stems. This drought-tolerant plant is one of the easiest to grow and is ideal for various locations, including borders, gravel gardens, and wildflower meadows.
In winter, I noticed that some leaves were nibbled by deer, but with the arrival of spring and more food sources becoming available, deer lose interest in Lychnis coronaria. The plant quickly recovers and grows, earning it the ‘deer-resistant’ label.
Lychnis coronaria typically grows to a height of 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) and spreads to around 50 cm (18 inches) with a clump-forming habit. Its erect stems are covered with dense, silver-grey, woolly hairs, giving the plant a velvety appearance. The vivid shades of magenta flowers contrast beautifully with the silvery foliage. In mild climates, the plant remains evergreen.
Adaptable and resilient, Lychnis coronaria can thrive in various conditions. It prefers fairly dry, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade but will tolerate clay soil. Its open blooms are perfect for bees and butterflies, making it an excellent choice for pollinators.
Although Lychnis coronaria is a short-lived perennial with a lifespan of around two to three years, it is certainly worth the investment. These plants develop much faster than long-lived perennials, ensuring that your flower garden looks spectacular in its early years. They also self-seed, providing a steady supply of young plants to fill in gaps as older ones die off. The key is to balance the number of short-lived perennials with true perennials to maintain structure and avoid a chaotic appearance in your flower bed.
Due to its short-lived nature, it is wise to leave some flower stalks of Lychnis coronaria to allow seed formation and ensure the plants can replace themselves naturally.
Best Companion Plants for Lychnis coronaria
I’ll share an example from a flower garden I’m still working on, but the initial results are already promising.
Lychnis coronaria and Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ makes a wonderful companion, subtly calming the vibrant color of Lychnis coronaria. Even before flowering, their contrasting leaf structures create a beautiful display, with Nepeta’s small leaves set against the larger, greyer leaves of Lychnis coronaria.
This combination is a win-win because both plants are easy to grow and bloom for most of the summer, providing lasting accents in your garden.
Lychnis coronaria and Salvia ‘Caradonna’ In this flower garden, I’ve placed Salvia ‘Caradonna’ in the background of Lychnis coronaria. This pairing beautifully sets off the bright flowers of Lychnis coronaria. While the sage is still small this season, next season, it will form a continuous drift of dark inflorescences, adding a touch of drama to the composition. For a less contrasting combination, you could use Salvia ‘Amethyst.’
Lychnis coronaria and Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’ This option is highly recommended for those who love bright combinations. Both plants bloom simultaneously in early June, brightening the garden with their vivid colors.
Even before flowering, the contrast in leaf structure makes their proximity impressive.
Lychnis coronaria and Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Spire’ This pairing illustrates how short-lived perennials can add volume to a flower garden in the first few years after planting. While Perovskia bushes are still small, Lychnis coronaria is already in full bloom.
Perovskia atriplicifolia will bloom in the second half of summer, but its small leaves already contrast nicely with the massive grey leaves of Lychnis coronaria. This combination will look even more impressive next year when Perovskia atriplicifolia forms a larger plant.
I hope this inspires you to use Lychnis coronaria in your flower garden, bringing bright accents and plenty of positive emotions.
If the bright pink flowers of Lychnis coronaria are too vibrant for your taste, there’s also a lovely white-flowered variety that adds a tasteful touch to summer flower gardens.
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