The Sticky Catchfly has bright red flowers in early summer. The stems are sticky which puts off insects which might want to eat the plant. The proper name for Sticky Catchfly is Lychnis viscaria.

You can see a picture of the flowering plant here.
It was first recorded in Britain in Holyrood Park in 1668 and it was a favourite of James the Sixth who was the son of Mary Queen of Scots.
The plant became very rare and the children of Lawhead School decided to try to save it.  Mr. Mitchell, Curator of the Botanic Garden, gave them some tiny plantlets.
First of all, they got some ordinary compost.
They had to be careful not to squeeze the stem!
Fill the pot with ordinary compost - make sure the soil is firm around the plant.
A little grit around the plant and THE JOB IS DONE.




By September the plants had grown well with a good root system.
The plants were split to provide specimens for the Botanic Garden and for the School Garden.
Some of the plants were put in the CAROPHYLLACEAE section of the Order Beds in the Botanic garden. The notice says:

"The Sticky Catchfly (Selkirk form) is an endangered plant. Lawhead School is helping the Botanic Garden to keep it safe. They have grown these examples. Visit the Glass Class to find out the whole story."

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