Lychnis flos-cuculi White Robin

Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin', also known as Ragged Robin or Cuckoo Flower, is a sturdy perennial plant, despite the delicate appearance of its charming ethereal flowering. Its abundant small white flowers are deeply laciniate, resembling light egret plumes. They appear in late spring and early summer, carried by astonishing purple stems. It is a fully hardy plant that thrives in moist soils and sunny pond edges. Its light and airy flowering, which comes alive with the slightest breeze, softens the stiffness of other perennials.

The cuckoo flower is named as such because it blooms when the cuckoo sings. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family and is a cousin of carnations. It is an upright perennial that thrives in wet areas of Europe (marshes, bogs) and can also be found in meadows up to 2500m (8202ft) altitude. Its base is a stoloniferous stump topped with lanceolate spatulate bright green leaves that can reach 12cm (5in) in length. From this base, branched reddish stems (50 to 70cm (20 to 28in)) emerge in May-June, bearing clusters of bell-shaped calyces, which are pinkish-purple in colour with red veins. The calyces open to release pure white flowers, about 3cm (1in) in diameter, with strongly dissected petals, forming almost very fine strips.

Their rather slender habit makes them perfect for planting en masse to create a hazy effect. You can plant them near a body of water, in moist soil, preferably in the sun, with companions that appreciate the same conditions, such as pink astilbes, candelabra primroses, coral-flowering heucheras, or Virginia bluebells and pink obedient plants. The plant will take some time to establish, but what a marvel when it does!