Lychnis chalcedonia-Maltese Cross, Scarlet Lightning

Propagating Lychnis or Maltese Cross or Scarlet Lightning can be done either in the spring or fall by digging up the plant and diving the root ball and it should be done every 3-5 years and throw away the older plant. Normally if Lychnis is planted in poor draining soil it is short lived and should be fertilized once a month and deadheaded after blooming for re-bloom and if seed heads are not cut off the plant can become a self-seeding problem in the garden bed. It will take either full sun or partial shade, is drought resistant, grows upwards of 3', and does not like humidity. It blooms in May-July and colors can range from an orange-red, pink, white and it also comes in double varieties. The flowers attract hummingbirds and the plant is deer resistant.