Culture
Best grown in moderately fertile, well-drained soils with consistent and even moisture in full sun to light shade. Tolerates poorer soils with some dryness. Excellent soil drainage is essential. Plants may self-seed in the garden in optimum growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lychnis fulgens is a red-flowered catchfly that is native to Siberia, Manchuria, Korea and Japan. It is a sparsely white-hairy, tufted perennial that typically grows in a clump to 12-24” tall on stems clad with sessile, ovate-lanceolate, medium to dark green leaves (to 3" long). Bright red flowers (to 2 1/2" diameter) with two-lobed petals bloom in few-flowered cymes in early to mid-summer.
The genus name Lychnis is derived from the Greek word lychnos meaning a small, portable lamp. May refer to the ancient use of leaves of woolly species for wicks.
Specific epithet means shining or glistening.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for slugs and snails.
Uses
Rock gardens. Border fronts.