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Lychnis:

A varied family of flowering plants with 5-petaled, bright flowers and attractive foliage. They flower for a long period through summer and tolerate drought and poor soil. They all prefer sun. 

All can propagated by division or seed. Lychnis coronaria from saved seed will eventually revert to pink.

Right: Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea in our garden with Verbascum Chiaii Album, Echinops sphaerocephalon and Sidalcea Rosaly. 19 July 2005

Lychnis chalcedonica

The common name for this plant, "Maltese Cross" from the shape of the petals, ignores the fact that it has 5 petals and so isn't actually cross-shaped. Christopher Lloyd describes it as one of the most valuable mid summer flowering plants of its colour - tomato red. it can grow to 2ft 9in tall in good soils, shorter in my sandy soil and it can be Chelsea chopped to bush it up. 

Lychnis coronaria Alba 

Grey, felted leaves form a neat rosette. The 2ft grey stems are smothered with white flowers from early summer. Deadhead to prevent self seeding. Short-lived unless renewed by division regularly. 

RHS Award of Garden Merit

Lychnis coronaria Alba with Salvia patens Dot's Delight in our garden.

Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea

For some strange reason not awarded an AGM by the RHS. Lovely deep red-magenta flowers.. Deadhead to prevent self seeding. Short-lived unless renewed by division regularly. 

Perfect Partners: Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea thrives alongside Geranium Katherine Adele and Erigeron Mrs FW Beale.

Lychnis coronaria Gardener's World

A fully double variety in the same colour as Atrosanguinea. Much admired and sought after. Doesn't seem to set seed so propagation is by careful division or fairly tricky cuttings.