Maltese Cross

Silene chalcedonica

Origin: Eurasia

Improvement status: Cultivated wild material

Seeds per packet: ~100

Germination tested 11/2023: 92%

Life cycle: Perennial

From our seed source, Wild Garden Seeds: "An old-fashioned garden perennial hardy in Zones 3-10. An excellent choice for 1-2' borders and cut flowers. The intensity of the scarlet flowers against the dark green foliage is both attractive to butterflies and difficult to photograph, with the red brilliance going off the scale. This species deserves attention."

The name "Maltese Cross" (it's also sometimes called "Jerusalem Cross") comes from the shape of the tiny clustered flowers, resembling the symbol of Malta. But the species itself is native to Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, central and eastern Russia, western China, and Mongolia.