Description
Lychnis flos-cuculi alba (now listed as Silene flos-cuculi 'Albiflora'), known as white ragged robin, is the white form of the native wild flower. From May to July it carries star-shaped white flowers with petals cut into narrow strips.
White ragged robin at a glance
| Botanical name |
Silene flos-cuculi 'Albiflora' (syn. Lychnis flos-cuculi alba) |
| Common name |
White ragged robin |
| Plant type |
Clump-forming perennial; dies back in winter |
| Height and spread |
Up to about 75 cm tall in flower, about 30 cm wide |
| Flowers |
White, each petal cut into narrow "ragged" strips, May to July |
| Position |
Full sun or part shade |
| Soil |
Moist to boggy clay, loam or sand; any pH |
| Pond depth |
None – plant in wet soil at the pond edge, not under water |
| Hardiness |
RHS H7 – very hardy (below -20°C) |
| Native to |
White garden form of a UK native wild flower |
Is white ragged robin a pond plant?
It is a pond-edge and bog plant, not a water plant. Plant it in moist or boggy soil above the water line, in a bog garden or in a damp meadow.
Is it good for wildlife?
The pink wild species is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list and its nectar attracts bumblebees, honeybees and butterflies. This is recorded for the wild species, not specifically for the white form.
How to plant and care for it
Plant from spring to late summer in soil that stays moist. Deadhead to prolong flowering. It is generally pest- and disease-free.
Which size should I buy?
Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.
