Red species and varieties of lychnis: description, planting and care

Red lychnis is a perennial shrub that has bright and eye-catching flowers. People often call it "adonis" or "soapstone". The first name appeared due to the fact that the stems of the plant were used as wicks, and the second - because if you rub the petals of flowers, they begin to "lather."

Now this plant has firmly entered our life and adorns many flower beds and gardens in Russia. Lychnis is a great addition to a flower garden as the plant goes well with a variety of shrubs, flowers and trees.

Red Lychnis is a perennial plant with a straight stem that can grow up to 1 meter in height. As a rule, a bush consists of several shoots without branches. The bark is gray or reddish in color and completely covered with hairs, which makes the bush rough to the touch.

The flowering period of many lychnis varieties begins in early summer and lasts about a month. Flowers are located at the top of the stem. The flowers are close to each other, they look like a narrow tube with wide petals at the end and small stamens in the center. The corolla can be up to 2 cm in diameter. In the process of flowering, the flowers are pollinated and the fruit is set. It visually resembles a nut with an abundance of small nucleoli.

A wide variety of species and varieties of lychnis is sold on the modern market. Let's consider the most popular varieties.

This species is often found in China, Japan, the Far East and Eastern Siberia. The flowers are bright red in color and 5 cm in diameter. The stems grow up to 50 cm in height. As for the bush, it has straight stems and oval leaves of a light green hue. Flowering of this species begins in July and lasts 33 days.

This type of lychnis is most often found on the territory of Russia, which is associated with the ability of the plant to tolerate frosts down to -35 degrees. Central Asia is considered its historical homeland. In common people, he received the name "dawn" due to the colors of the fiery color. Bushes grow up to 90 cm in height. The leaves of the plant are lanceolate, and the flowers are small. Blooms in June and continues to bloom for 1.5 months.

This variety was first discovered on the alpine slopes. Lychnis grows up to 80 cm. The plant has many small oval-shaped leaves. The flowering period begins in mid-summer. As for the flowers, their diameter reaches 3 cm. They have an unusual purple hue. The plant is recommended to be planted in places with a lot of sunlight. Moreover, the species has high drought tolerance and good frost tolerance.

This is a low-growing variety, the height of which does not exceed 50 cm. It blooms at the end of May and withers after 45-50 days. The plant has bright red flowers. As for planting, the variety loves a little moist soil, but without stagnant water. The plant responds well to fertilizers and easily tolerates cold winters.

To grow a beautiful plant, it is important to take a responsible approach to the process of planting it. Lychnis can be planted both in the shade and in the sun, but its beauty can be fully revealed only in sunny places. You should also take into account all the recommendations for growing this crop.The planting site should be moderately moist and well-drained. Before planting in the ground, it is recommended to add (per 1 square meter):

• a bucket of river sand;
• 40 grams of potassium magnesium;
• 50 grams of superphosphate.

If the place is clay, then it is better to add compost or humus. If the soil is acidic, liming of the soil must be done. After these procedures, the plant is planted in open ground and watered.

Lychnis is considered a fairly simple plant to grow. It requires regular watering, fertilizing, mulching, and removing shoots and old flowers. It is important for lychnis to create an efficient irrigation system, especially during the hot season. After irrigation, the soil will need to be loosened and weeds removed - this plays a big role, because weeds can negatively affect lichnis.

It is better to use minerals as fertilizers. They should be applied during the growing season 2-3 times. The first feeding should be done before the flowers appear. A solution of potassium sulfate, supersulfate and urea is especially effective.

Like all plants, lychnis can be propagated in several ways. Let's consider them in more detail.

• Growing from seeds. If you decide to grow lychnis from seeds on your own, then you need to start in late February or early March. The plant has large seeds, which greatly facilitates the planting process. It is enough to put one seed at a time in a small pot. Then the seedlings are moved to a cool room for 3 weeks. Then you need to move the pots to a warmer room with good lighting. When the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into larger pots. Regular watering and good lighting will also be needed. Immediately before planting, the plant is hardened for 10-12 days.
• Propagation by cuttings. This method is best for terry varieties. At the beginning of summer, you will need to cut cuttings up to 20 cm long. They need to be rooted in a pot or seedling box. In order for the cuttings to take root, it is important to create greenhouse conditions. After the cuttings begin to grow, they must be regularly ventilated. The transplant is carried out in the fall.
• Division of the bush. The procedure is carried out in April or May. On the old plant, shoots form at the roots every year, which makes the bush thicker. You will need to dig up the entire bush and divide it into several parts. It is important that each part contains both shoots and rhizomes. Then the bushes are planted in the chosen place.

In the next video, you will find additional information on planting, care and reproduction of lychnis.