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Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese cross)

Other names: Scarlet lightning, Scarlet lychnis, Tears of Christ, Meadow campion, None-such, Red robin, Great candlestick, Knight's cross, London pride, Flower of Constantinople, Gardener's delight, Gardener's eye, Cross of Jerusalem, Fireball, Flower of Bristow, Jerusalem cross, Common rose campion, Constantinople campion

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Species
L. chalcedonica is a herbaceous perennial, producing upright stems of bright red flowers in summer.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
1 m 0.5 m 2-5 years
3 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in fertile, moist, free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade in a sheltered position. The plant may need supporting.

Suggested uses

Coastal, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Wildlife

UK hardiness

H7

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Sunset zone

A1, A2, A3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Erect

Native to

Western Russia

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Deadhead to encourage further flowering. Cut back in autumn.

Propagation methods

Seed, Division, Basal cuttings

Pests

Slugs

Aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

Cut back after flowering in early autumn (optional)

Deadhead to encourage more flowers (optional)

Divide and replant in spring

Support or stake (optional)

Take basal cuttings

Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Sow seeds in a cold frame in spring

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (32)

Lychnis

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Lychnis 'Hill Grounds'
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Lychnis 'Hill Grounds' Rose campion 'Hill Grounds'
Lychnis coronaria Oculata Group
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Lychnis coronaria Oculata Group Rose campion Oculata Group
Lychnis flos-cuculi var. albiflora
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Lychnis flos-cuculi var. albiflora White ragged robin
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin'
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Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin' Ragged robin 'White Robin'
Lychnis viscaria
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Lychnis viscaria Sticky catchfly
Lychnis viscaria 'Splendens'
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Lychnis viscaria 'Splendens' German catchfly 'Splendens'
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Jenny'
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Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Jenny' Ragged robin 'Jenny'
Lychnis x arkwrightii 'Vesuvius'
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Lychnis x arkwrightii 'Vesuvius' Campion 'Vesuvius'
Lychnis coronaria
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Lychnis coronaria Rose campion
Lychnis coronaria 'Dancing Ladies'
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Lychnis coronaria 'Dancing Ladies' Rose campion 'Dancing Ladies'
Lychnis flos-cuculi
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Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragged robin
Lychnis flos-jovis
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Lychnis flos-jovis Flower of Jove
Lychnis coronaria 'Alba'
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Lychnis coronaria 'Alba' White rose campion
Lychnis chalcedonica
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Lychnis chalcedonica Maltese cross
Lychnis 'Molten Lava'
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Lychnis 'Molten Lava' Campion 'Molten Lava'
Lychnis alpina
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Lychnis alpina Alpine catchfly
Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea Group
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Lychnis coronaria Atrosanguinea Group Rose campion Atrosanguinea Group
Lychnis chalcedonica 'Rosea'
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Lychnis chalcedonica 'Rosea' Maltese cross 'Rosea'
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petite Jenny'
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Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petite Jenny' Ragged robin 'Petite Jenny'
Lychnis 'Lengai Red' (Lengai Series)
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Lychnis 'Lengai Red' (Lengai Series) Campion 'Lengai Red'
Lychnis viscaria subsp. atropurpurea
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Lychnis viscaria subsp. atropurpurea Red sticky catchfly
Lychnis viscaria 'Snowbird'
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Lychnis viscaria 'Snowbird' Sticky catchfly 'Snowbird'
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Nana'
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Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Nana' Dwarf ragged robin
Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petit Henri'
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Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petit Henri' Ragged robin 'Petit Henri'
Lychnis chalcedonica var. albiflora
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Lychnis chalcedonica var. albiflora White Maltese cross
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Companion plants (20)

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Verbena bonariensis 'Violetta'
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Verbena bonariensis 'Violetta' Purple top 'Violetta'
Verbena x baileyana 'Purple Haze'
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Verbena x baileyana 'Purple Haze' Hybrid vervain 'Purple Haze'
Verbena bonariensis 'Vanity'
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Verbena bonariensis 'Vanity' Purple top 'Vanity'
Verbena bonariensis 'Royal Dreams'
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Verbena bonariensis 'Royal Dreams' Purple top 'Royal Dreams'
Glandularia canadensis
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Glandularia canadensis Rose vervain
Verbena bonariensis 'Meteor Shower'
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Verbena bonariensis 'Meteor Shower' Purple top 'Meteor Shower'
Verbena (any hardy variety)
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Verbena (any hardy variety) Vervain (any hardy variety)
Verbena macdougalii 'Lavender Spires'
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Verbena macdougalii 'Lavender Spires' MacDougal verbena 'Lavender Spires'
Verbena bonariensis 'Little One'
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Verbena bonariensis 'Little One' Purple top 'Little One'
Glandularia bipinnatifida
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Glandularia bipinnatifida Prairie verbena
Verbena hastata
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Verbena hastata American blue vervain
Verbena hastata 'Alba'
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Verbena hastata 'Alba' White vervain
Verbena hastata 'White Spires'
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Verbena hastata 'White Spires' Vervain 'White Spires'
Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton'
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Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton' Vervain 'Bampton'
Verbena hastata f. rosea
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Verbena hastata f. rosea Pink vervain
Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop'
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Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop' Purple top 'Lollipop'
Verbena hastata 'Blue Spires'
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Verbena hastata 'Blue Spires' Verbena 'Blue Spires'
Verbena hastata f. rosea 'Pink Spires'
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Verbena hastata f. rosea 'Pink Spires' Pink vervain 'Pink Spires'
Duranta erecta
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Duranta erecta Golden dewdrop
Verbena bonariensis
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Verbena bonariensis Purple top
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Related content

Discuss Lychnis chalcedonica with other Shoot members

Re: Re: Re: Maltese cross (Lychnis chalcedonica)

Kathy N
732 0
Hi, Dave,
Not trivial at all :)
K
Posted: Thursday 5th of April 2012 04:41 PM

Re: Re: Maltese cross (Lychnis chalcedonica)

Shoot User
732 1
thanks again ! sorry for questions that seem quite trivial but easy when u know how ! tah:)
Posted: Sunday 1st of April 2012 05:35 PM

Re: Maltese cross (Lychnis chalcedonica)

Kathy N
732 1
Hi, Dave,
The usual culprit for leggy plug plants/seedling/etc is low light levels. That would explain the pale colour as well.
Kathy C
Posted: Wednesday 28th of March 2012 10:12 PM

Maltese cross (Lychnis chalcedonica)

Shoot User
732 1
had a few plug plants delivered potted them into 3" pot taken well kept moist question being is they seem a little leggy at what point do i re-pot them on i'm just not sure height wise they are twice the height of the pot and turn like a very pale green should i pott them on peps ? many thanks for any advise
Posted: Wednesday 28th of March 2012 07:31 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 10:18 AM
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