Description
Maltese Cross – Lychnis chalcedonica, is a cottage garden favorite that is reliable and hardy. Originally native to Central and eastern Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and northwestern China, it is an heirloom flower that has been grown in gardens since colonial times. This species was grown in Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello. Dazzling scarlet flowers form dense clusters atop three-foot tall plants. Hardy in Zones 3-8, Maltese Cross is a reliable and long-lived perennial. The scarlet blooms are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds and are deer-resistant. The bright red blossoms make a bold splash in the garden and pair well with yellow flowers, such as Black-Eyed Susan, Yellow Coneflower, Gallardia, Yarrow, and Sunflowers.
Plant in full sun in evenly moist, well-drained soil. When starting from seed, sow directly into the ground or start them indoors in containers. Sow seeds directly into your garden in late spring, covering them with 1/8 inch of fine soil. Seeds germinate in two to three weeks. In indoor containers, plant seeds in pots filled with sterile potting soil six to eight weeks before your region’s final frost. Place the pots in a sunny window and keep them evenly moist. Once seedlings sprout, transplant them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Clumps may be divided in spring or fall and will self-sow from mature seed heads.
Color: Scarlet/Rose/Salmon
Height: 12-24
Type: Perennial
Climate: Full to part sun. – Average to moist water. Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions.
Seeds/lb.: 1,120,000
Germination time: 14-24 days at 65-70 degrees
Rate: 1 oz./350 sq. ft.
Bloom time: Early spring to mid-summer
Zone: 3-8
Pkt wt: 2 gm, approx 4,500 seeds
Pollinators: Many Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Deer and Rabit Resistant: yes
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