Lychnis flos-cuculi alba - White Ragged Robin, Bog Plant

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.