Ragged-Robin - Lychnis flos-cuculi
Irish name - Bròg na Feannaig
Pink family - Caryophyllaceae
Ragged-Robin is a perennial plant of damp places. This species is typical of damp meadows, marshes, ditches and damp woodland. It is a common plant across Northern Ireland, however, due to drainage and agricultural improvement of wet grassland, local populations have declined over the past decades.
The first part of its scientific name ‘Lychnis‘ comes from the greek word ‘lukhnis‘, which means lamp. This alludes to the bright pink flowers, which stand out in the late spring landscape. In the United States, the Ragged-Robin is also called Cuckoo Flower, which complies with the translation of ‘flos-cuculi‘. As the plant bears bright pink flowers with raggedy petals it is called Ragged-Robin, because the plant and bird both stand out brightly at the start of summer.
The basal leaves are stalked and oblong, whereas the stem leaves are narrow, stalkless and borne in opposite pairs. Ragged-Robin flowers in early summer from May to July. The pink flowers are comprising of five petals, each of which is divided into four linear lobes. It is a favoured larval food plant of moths like Campion (Hadena rivularis) and Lychnis (Hadena bicruris).
As a clever mechanism against attack, the stalk of Ragged-Robin is covered with tiny downward pointing hairs that prevent small insects such as ants climbing up the stalk and attacking the bloom.
One specific feature of Ragged-Robin is that the root contains saponins. This soap substitute that can be used for washing clothes, hair etc. and can be extracted by boiling the roots in water.
Propagation
From seed
Sow seed in late summer or autumn in a cold frame. The seeds do not germinate well in spring. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots, when they are large enough to handle. Plant the seedlings out the following summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in early autumn. Ragged-Robin is a prolific producer of seed.
By division
Because Ragged-Robin produces so much viable seed, often seeds will be dispersed close to the parent plant where seedlings will grow. Ragged-Robin is also easily propagated vegetatively as small plants extend from the basal rosette. If space is limited the plantlets will grow on top of each other producing a mound of viable plants. Divide the plants in spring or autumn. Larger clumps/or plantlets can be replanted direct into their permanent positions. Carefully pot up smaller plants and seedlings that grow around the base of the parent plant and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
The following grow in similar habitats (alphabetical by common name)
- Bugle
- Common Dog Violet
- Cuckooflower
- Foxglove
- Hemp-agrimony
- Ivy
- Lesser Celandine
- Marsh Marigold
- Meadowsweet
- Primrose
- Red Campion
- Teasel
- Wild Strawberry
- Yellow Flag
Permission from the landowner - and, if the site holds any kind of designation, from Environment & Heritage Service too - must be sought before collecting plant material (including seeds).