Plant name: Centranthus ruber 'Red Valerian'
Other names: fox's brush, German lilac, pretty Betsy, Jupiter's beard
Category: Woody-based perennial
Plant family: Caprifoliaceae
Light preference: Full sun
Soil preference: Chalk, loam, sand. Alkaline, Neutral. Well-drained.
Flowering/fruiting month: July - October
Size:
- 0.5-1 metres height
- 0.1-0.5 metres spread
Description: C. ruber is a woody-based perennial, sometimes grown as a biennial, with grey-green leaves and dense clusters of crimson, pink or white, slightly fragrant flowers from late spring to autumn.
Care: Grow in a well-drained soil that is poor to moderately fertile, ideally a chalky or stony soil. Good drought resistance; thrives on walls and in coastal gardens. Needs full sun to flower well. Propagate by seed sown in spring. Cut down stems in autumn or if self-seeding is a problem then cut back hard in July after their first flowering.
Current appearance: