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James H. Schutte
Caryophyllaceae
Lychnis chalcedonica
Maltese Cross
There may be no perennial more attractive to hummingbirds than Maltese cross, with its globular clusters of scarlet flowers atop tall, unbranched, hairy stems. A perennial native to European Russia, it has an upright, clumping habit with medium green, oval hairy leaves that form a basal rosette and also clasp the flower stems.
In early to midsummer, the stems are topped by domed clusters of five-petaled, scarlet to red-orange flowers. Each petal is deeply lobed, almost V-shaped. Both butterflies and hummingbirds will pay visits. Seeds, which are readily produced and scattered, gather in bronze-brown pods.
Grow Maltese cross in full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained garden soil. Excessive shade promotes leggy stems that may call for staking. This plant will reseed itself across the garden, and some gardeners treat it as an easy-to-grow annual. Perfect for the cottage garden or mixed border, the vivid flowers look particularly showy when positioned near silver-foliaged plants and when growing in massive sweeps. After flowering, cut back plants severely to coax a second flush of bloom weeks later. Lighter-colored cultivars are popular: 'Carnea' displays salmony peach blossoms, 'Dusky Pink' blooms salmon-pink, and 'Rosea', rosy-pink.
8 - 1
3 - 8
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
2'-4' / 0.6m - 1.2m
10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Eastern Europe, Russia/Siberia
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Average
Clay, Loam, Sand
Drought
Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Summer
Showy
Red, Orange, Rose, Salmon, Peach, Orange Red
Brown
Green
No
Single
Yes
Medium
Glossy
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Sometimes
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
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