- Botanical name: Lychnis chalcedonica
- Common name: London pride
- Family: Caryophyllaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Red
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Colourful new growth
- Flowers
London Pride, Lychnis chalcedonica, is also known as Maltese Cross or Jerusalem Cross, owing to its cross-shaped summer blooms. Native to Russia but brought to Britain by the Knights of Malta, it’s a hardy species, bearing clusters of dazzling scarlet-orange red flowers on sturdy stems, in contrast with bright green foliage. It makes a fantastic feature in a sunny garden, where it attracts a variety of bees and butterflies. It makes an excellent cut flower.
Grow Lychnis chalcedonica in full sun in moisture retentive soil. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering and propagate by division in spring.
How to grow Lychnis chalcedonica
-
Plant size
90cm height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front, middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / acidic
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Lychnis chalcedonica and wildlife
Lychnis chalcedonica is known for attracting bees and butterflies/moths. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Does not attract Other pollinators
Is Lychnis chalcedonica poisonous?
Lychnis chalcedonica has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
