Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Growster... on May 31, 2016, 18:27

Title: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: Growster... on May 31, 2016, 18:27
Can anyone help Mrs Growster on identifying these flowers please?

Younger daught gave her the seed last year, and they grew to about 6" tall, but with no blooms and this year they're up to 18" - 2' with what looks like a flower head forming.

YD has no idea where the seeds came from, and can't remember the name either, which isn't a lot of help... (but we love her of course)!

They're quite prolific, and seem pretty sturdy too!
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: sunshineband on May 31, 2016, 19:08
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)

They are a biennial (like foxgloves) and are an excellent plant imho. Love them!
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: JayG on May 31, 2016, 20:57
Have had these growing for a few years now having been given some seeds by my next door neighbour. Very hardy, beautiful foliage and intensely pink flowers.

Thanks for the correct Latin name - I've been calling them 'Brian's pink thing' for a while - Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) sounds much more professional, even though my neighbour is actually called Brian, and also likes playing with words and names (not the right forum to mention what he and his wife commonly call our local Chinese takeaway, actual name 'Canton Wok'  ::))
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: mrs bouquet on May 31, 2016, 21:11
I love lychnis as well, I have always had the pink flowers and this year I treated myself to a white one, I have planted them close together so I hope the mix will look good.  Lucky you.  regards,  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: Growster... on June 01, 2016, 05:25
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)

They are a biennial (like foxgloves) and are an excellent plant imho. Love them!

Thank you so much, Mrs Bouquet!

We seem to have several lots all around the garden, and can't wait to see the flowers out!
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: Growster... on June 01, 2016, 05:28
Have had these growing for a few years now having been given some seeds by my next door neighbour. Very hardy, beautiful foliage and intensely pink flowers.

Thanks for the correct Latin name - I've been calling them 'Brian's pink thing' for a while - Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) sounds much more professional, even though my neighbour is actually called Brian, and also likes playing with words and names (not the right forum to mention what he and his wife commonly call our local Chinese takeaway, actual name 'Canton Wok'  ::))

Ha ha ha, Jay!

That could be another post, but on the other hand - er - nope, eh..;0)

Or maybe...
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: Trikidiki on June 01, 2016, 08:35
They are perennial, I have one on my raspberry bed that I feel isn't doing any harm and adds a bit of colour. It has been there for at least four years. They are generally treated as a biennial though.
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: sunshineband on June 01, 2016, 09:06
They are perennial, I have one on my raspberry bed that I feel isn't doing any harm and adds a bit of colour. It has been there for at least four years. They are generally treated as a biennial though.

When grown as a perennial the bottom of the plant often turns very brown and unattractive in my experience. Maybe it is just me. They are so prolific it hardly seems worth worrying about really.
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: JayG on June 01, 2016, 09:21
Hard to tell whether my patch of plants are the originals or have self seeded themselves which they do very readily, including in the expansion gaps in the concrete drive and the joints between paving slabs up to 5 yards away!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Grey leafed flower...
Post by: Growster... on June 01, 2016, 10:25
I'm not entirely sure that some of them are two years old already, we sowed so many of them, and some are much bigger than the others!

Mrs Growster would like to thank everybody here for your help, and will have a tincture at lunchtime to celebrate, as it's too cold!