Centranthus rubra - red valerian

Didn't you bring some to the swap years ago? I used to grow it long long ago in Oklahoma. It blooms for a long time, even through the winter if its mild enough.

Well color me DUH! I sure didn't recognize it, lol.... My red valerian is a very vivid red and much taller and bloomed a good bit later than this one. I still can't figure out where it came from, but thanks for the ID!

It does look a lot pinker than a normal red one, but I swear it is just like the seedling you gave me years ago. I don't remember if you sowed them or bought them somewhere and what you gave was just an extra, whatever the story is mine looked just like this patch only I don't think they survived last years drought because I don't see them no where this year.

I remember that, I had bought a 4 pack of some and gave a couple people an extra. I just didn't know that some of them were pink. I do need to get out there and dead head since finding out the seeds are very viable and is what makes it invasive.

Here's a pic of my red peeking out from an Amethyst Falls Wisteria. That red really pops and last forever when it blooms.........

{{gwi:584443}}

But that looks more like a Silene or Catchfly! But then, I cain't see the leaves due to the Wisteria.

Looks like a fire pink aka silene to me, too. my red valerian has been going for like 10 years now and is just a little bit more red than yours. I was disappointed it wasn't more of a deep color, actually. I've found so long as i deadhead it stays in reasonable control & doesn't reseed invasively. Mine mostly blooms in the late spring though- if i get any bloom now, it's only a dibble.

My centranthus are always the first thing to bloom in my front perennial gardens and are still blooming now. They do tend to get ganglier as the season goes on. I think that is a silene too by the way. Adele