Lychnis chalcedonica

[Paul T]

Howdy again All,

I received this...



a couple of years ago as a Lychnis species, but I don't know which it is.  The flowers are a lovely strong deep orange, and the plant grows to a bit over 2 feet tall.  The flowers are around 1.5cm wide.  I've had a bit of a look around and can find a couple of possibilities as to the name, but I am hoping that someone will be able to point me in a firm direction as to a name.  It seems to set seed freely as I harvested some last year (I'm hoping it is still viable, as I never got it sown!  ) but I just love the colour of the flower.  Quite delicate, but WOW what a colour!! 

Any ideas?  Thanks in anticipation.

Edited 1/1/2008 to update subject to reflect identification

[zephirine]

Lychnis chalcedonica, I'd say, Paul!
We call it "Jerusalem Cross" in french!
Zeph

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree with Zeph Paul !

[Lesley Cox]

I agree too now that the name's in front of me. First glance made me think Lychnis x Haageana `Vesuvius' which I think is a L. chalcedonica hybrid.

[Paul T]

Lesley,

I think that Vesuvius is a much larger flower isn't it?  I seem to recall someone talking aobut them somewhere in my travels as having flowers a couple of inches across or something like that.  L. chalcedonica is what I was mostly leaning towards from my attempts to ID, but I realised there were a lot more Lychnis out there than I thought so there could be others that fitted it better.  Lovely plant!!  Love the colour.

Thanks everyone for help in the ID.