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PlantFiles: Maltese Cross, Jerusalem Cross, London Pride
Lychnis chalcedonica

 
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Family: Caryophyllaceae (kar-ree-oh-fil-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Lychnis (LIK-niss) (Info)
Species: chalcedonica (kalk-ee-DON-ee-kuh) (Info)

6 vendors have this plant for sale.

21 members have or want this plant for trade.

Category:
Perennials

Height:
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)

Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Danger:
Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Color:
Red
Red-Orange

Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall

Foliage:
Herbaceous

Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds

Soil pH requirements:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored

By poppysue
Thumbnail #1 of Lychnis chalcedonica by poppysue

By mystic
Thumbnail #2 of Lychnis chalcedonica by mystic

By poppysue
Thumbnail #3 of Lychnis chalcedonica by poppysue

By Lenjo
Thumbnail #4 of Lychnis chalcedonica by Lenjo

By Evert
Thumbnail #5 of Lychnis chalcedonica by Evert

By Evert
Thumbnail #6 of Lychnis chalcedonica by Evert

By Weezingreens
Thumbnail #7 of Lychnis chalcedonica by Weezingreens

There are a total of 24 photos.
Click here to view them all!

Profile:

9 positives
1 neutral
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Positive penpen On Mar 22, 2008, penpen from North Tonawanda, NY wrote:

Maltese Cross is a very good perennial hummer plant for those of us in colder zones and oh so easy to grow.

Positive Bellisgirl On Feb 6, 2007, Bellisgirl from Spokane, WA wrote:

I love this plant!! Ive had it for about five years now. It is an upright plant with gorgeous blood red flowers. Needs well drained soil. Mine also need ample water when its hot out. Ive had several volenteers come up from it. The ones I have in partial sun grow to over 4ft. tall; much larger than the ones in full sun.

Positive Gabrielle On Jan 27, 2006, Gabrielle from Washington, IL
(Zone 5a) wrote:

This has such beautiful clusters of bright red flowers that everyone takes notice (and wants a start)! It self seeds itself in some of the most interesting places. My information says it is hardy in zones 3-10, and it will do well in partial sun. Light aids germination of seeds.

Positive Aerowox On Sep 4, 2005, Aerowox from Saint Paul, MN wrote:

In the early 1900's, my grandmother brought seeds from Lychnis Chalcedonica to America from Bessarabia, South Russia and Wittenberg, Germany. The plants are now well established in my mother's garden, which is zone 3 in south-central North Dakota. I also live in zone 3, east-central Minnesota, so I collected seeds to plant here next spring.

Positive LilyLover_UT On Jan 17, 2005, LilyLover_UT from Ogden, UT
(Zone 5b) wrote:

Lychnis chalcedonica is one of the absolute best hummingbird flowers!

Positive annaks On Jul 12, 2004, annaks from Grande Prairie
() wrote:

Lychnis chalcedonica grows very well here in zone 2B too. It self seeds enough for transplants and gifts, but not too much. Mine do not fall over, unless they are stepped on. (I have kids.) They look striking next to my purple Lupines and Campanula glomerata, yellow Anthemis tinctoria (Golden Marguerite sold to me as Matricaria, and even worse, twice!), blue Linum peronne, and Chrysanthemum leucanthemum (ox eye daisy, blush;} , considered a weed here in Alberta, but I like them). They are best viewed from a slight distance as the older flowers darken and dry up. They begin blooming early July. The first year they are cute little 1-2 foot seedlings, but do not be fooled, they will grow 3-4 feet in the future. Plant en masse for best show.

Positive saya On Jun 29, 2004, saya from Heerlen
(Netherlands)
(Zone 8b) wrote:

I just love this colour..such a beautiful red. We call it here "..brandende liefde.." what means "..burning love.." and this name suits her well. I've sown a white form of this burning love...hm..white burning love...I cannot imagine that..only in mystical way maybe..If I have flowers I'll post some pics of these too.

Positive octofad On Jun 23, 2003, octofad wrote:

One of the best, most fiery shades of red you are likely to come across in such an easily grown garden plant (grows extremely well here in Northern England). I wouldn't be without it. Currently also growing it from seed - seed took about two weeks to germinate in damp compost. I have had no problems with the plant falling over; mine are very robust and contrast very well with pink Valerian and yellow Hemerocallis.

Positive Weezingreens On Jan 9, 2003, Weezingreens from Seward, AK
(Zone 3b) wrote:

Maltese Cross performs very well in our zone 3 climate. It withstands our wet, long winters, returning each year to bring dazzling color to my beds. It grows vigorously here, requiring division every two or three years, and will take over the bed, if allowed. This plant tends to fall over, rest on its stem, then grow upward again, so full height potential is not often realized without staking.

Neutral jody On Jan 12, 2001, jody from MD &, VA
(Zone 7b) wrote:

The genus Lychnis is related to Silene. Maltese cross has been grown by gardeners since at least the seventeenth century. It usually is a bright orange/red but there are varieties of pink, white and double flowers but aren't as common. It flowers for a short time in early summer. It grows to a height of 4'. Best cultivated in sun with well draining soil. Deadhead to promote more flowers. Hardy zones 4-10. Propagate by seed or division.

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

, (2 reports)
Auburn, Alabama
Midland City, Alabama
Weaver, Alabama
Seward, Alaska
Merced, California
Fort Collins, Colorado
Plainfield, Illinois
Washington, Illinois
Evansville, Indiana
Fishers, Indiana
Greenville, Indiana
Davenport, Iowa
Ewing, Kentucky
Brockton, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Owosso, Michigan
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Helena, Montana
Swanzey, New Hampshire
Freehold, New Jersey
Albany, New York
North Tonawanda, New York
Bucyrus, Ohio
Tangent, Oregon
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Salt Lake City, Utah (2 reports)
Spokane, Washington (2 reports)
Menomonie, Wisconsin



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