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Key characteristics

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Height: 12–18 inches
Width: 12–18 inches
Flower color: Orange-scarlet
Foliage color: Brownish-purple
Bloom time: Mid to late summer
Light: Full sun
Water: Regular
Maintenance: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming; may self-seed prolifically
Growing zone: USDA zones 4–10
Wildlife: Butterflies, hummingbirds

Perennials

Lychnis x arkwrightii 'Vesuvius'

Vesuvius Campion

Lychnis x arkwrightii 'Vesuvius' is an impressive perennial known for its rich, reddish-orange flowers that have a unique, star-like shape. The five-petaled blooms are slightly jagged at the edges, creating a delicate, spiky appearance. These flowers are borne in dense clusters atop tall, sturdy stems, rising above the plant's green leaves with distinctive purple undersides. The flowers appear in mid-summer and persist into fall, providing bold color and attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Light

Full sun

Water

Regular

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Sun Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Coreopsis · Bearded irises · Bee balm · Yarrow · Ornamental grasses · Garden phlox

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. In full sun it holds its shape best, and grouping several together keeps the color strong enough to be seen from across the garden.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)