Silene Species, Flower of Bristol, Jerusalem Cross, Maltese Cross, Scarlet Lighning, Scarlet Lychnis

Silenechalcedonica

Family
Caryophyllaceae (kar-ree-oh-fil-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Silene (sy-LEE-nee)
Species
chalcedonica (kalk-ee-DON-ee-kuh)
Synonym
Agrostemma chalcedonica
Lychnis chalcedonica
Lychnis fulgida
Other Details
Water Requirements
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Auburn, Alabama

Midland City, Alabama

Montevallo, Alabama

Weaver, Alabama

Juneau, Alaska

Palmer, Alaska

Seward, Alaska

Merced, California

Sacramento, California

Sierraville, California

Willits, California

Fort Collins, Colorado

Littleton, Colorado

Loganville, Georgia

Moscow, Idaho

Chicago, Illinois

Plainfield, Illinois

Washington, Illinois

Evansville, Indiana

Fishers, Indiana

Greenville, Indiana

Davenport, Iowa

Urbandale, Iowa

Barbourville, Kentucky

Ewing, Kentucky

Falmouth, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Calais, Maine

Springfield, Massachusetts

Wakefield, Massachusetts

Owosso, Michigan

Royal Oak, Michigan

Stephenson, Michigan

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota(2 reports)

Dillon, Montana

Helena, Montana

Laurel, Montana

Blair, Nebraska

Swanzey, New Hampshire

Freehold, New Jersey

Albany, New York

North Tonawanda, New York

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Sapphire, North Carolina

Bucyrus, Ohio

Norman, Oklahoma

MOUNT HOOD PARKDALE, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Tangent, Oregon

Mc Keesport, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Irene, South Dakota

Amarillo, Texas

Austin, Texas

Salt Lake City, Utah(2 reports)

Sterling, Virginia

Bellevue, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Spokane, Washington(3 reports)

Spokane Valley, Washington

Trentwood, Washington

Fremont, Wisconsin

Marinette, Wisconsin

Menomonie, Wisconsin

Pulaski, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

15
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
Sort By:
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S
Willits, CA (Zone 9a) | August 2019 | positive

Many things to love!
• Hummingbird (and butterflies) favorite, and tall enough to avoid capture by cats.
• Deadheading ...Read More

F
F
| May 2017 | positive

I live in Saskatchewan, Canada in the middle of the prairies. My hubs and I found this plant as a dying sprig being thrown out at a gard...Read More

B
San Juan, PR | June 2013 | positive

These are all over Puerto Rico and they're very low-maintenance plants. They're mostly used as hedges and the can be very uniformly trim...Read More

R
R
| February 2012 | positive

this plant is a favorit plant of mine, "burning love" is the name too for this plant. The plant is most of the times overfed, in my opini...Read More

V
V
Sierraville, CA | June 2010 | positive

Love this plant for its bright red color. My experience has been that of Jody - a one time mid summer bloomer. I deadhead faithfully but ...Read More

J
Patterson, GA | September 2009 | positive

Such a beautiful flower that is a hummer magnet with its beauty. I was drawn to this plant by its name, The Jerusalem Cross, hence Jerus...Read More

P
P
North Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6a) | March 2008 | positive

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

B
Spokane, WA | February 2007 | positive

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 so...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | positive

This has such beautiful clusters of bright red flowers that everyone takes notice (and wants a start)! It self seeds itself in some of t...Read More

A
Saint Paul, MN | September 2005 | positive

In the early 1900's, my grandmother brought seeds from Lychnis Chalcedonica to America from Bessarabia, South Russia and Wittenberg, Germ...Read More

L
Ogden, UT (Zone 5b) | January 2005 | positive

Lychnis chalcedonica is one of the absolute best hummingbird flowers!

A
A
| July 2004 | positive

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 f...Read More

S
S
(Zone 8b) | June 2004 | positive

I just love this colour..such a beautiful red. We call it here "..brandende liefde.." what means "..burning love.." and this name suits h...Read More

O
| June 2003 | positive

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 i...Read More

W
Seward, AK (Zone 3b) | January 2003 | positive

Maltese Cross performs very well in our zone 3 climate. It withstands our wet, long winters, returning each year to bring dazzling color ...Read More

J
J
MD &, VA (Zone 7b) | January 2001 | neutral

The genus Lychnis is related to Silene. Maltese cross has been grown by gardeners since at least the seventeenth century. It usually is a...Read More

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