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

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

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.

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.

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.

Lychnis chalcedonica is one of the absolute best hummingbird flowers!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.