Bright red flowers once grew in George Washington’s garden at Mount Vernon, and Thomas Jefferson planted the same perennial at Monticello. Known as Maltese cross, the plant appeared in American gardens centuries ago but has become less familiar than many flowers sold at garden centers today.
Maltese cross (Silene chalcedonica, also known as Lychnis chalcedonica) produces clusters of scarlet flowers with notched petals. Its upright stems reach 20 to 40 inches, placing the blooms above lower-growing plants during summer.
Despite its long history, Maltese cross still offers traits gardeners seek: drought tolerance after establishment, cold hardiness, and flowers that attract pollinators. It can also return year after year without needing to be replanted each spring.
Maltese Cross Grew in American Gardens Before Independence
Botanist John Bartram included Maltese cross in a plant catalog published in 1770, six years before the Declaration of Independence.
The flower also appears in the gardening histories of Mount Vernon and Monticello, where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson cultivated ornamental plants alongside vegetables and other crops.
Maltese cross originated in parts of Eurasia before becoming established in European and American gardens.
Its flowers grow in dense clusters at the tops of tall stems. Each scarlet bloom has notched petals that give the flower its cross-like appearance.
The perennial received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 1993, recognition for its performance as a garden plant.
Despite its historical presence, Maltese cross receives less attention than many modern ornamental varieties.
Why This Forgotten Flower Still Works in Modern Gardens
Maltese cross grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 and prefers full sun with well-drained soil.
Sandy or loamy soil suits the plant, while prolonged waterlogging can damage its roots.
Once established, it tolerates periods of dry weather, although young plants need water while developing their root systems.
Summer brings clusters of scarlet flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
The stems can reach 40 inches, so plants growing in exposed, windy locations may benefit from support.
Maltese cross also produces seeds that can generate new plants without annual replanting.
Removing spent flowers helps limit unwanted self-seeding. Gardeners who want more plants can leave some flower heads to mature and collect the seeds.
Seeds can be sown in spring in prepared, well-drained soil. They need light for germination, so avoid burying them beneath a thick layer of soil.
A thin layer of organic mulch around established plants can help retain soil moisture, while keeping mulch away from the stems reduces moisture buildup.
Aphids and slugs may visit the plant, but Maltese cross isn’t known for widespread disease problems.
The same scarlet perennial grown in Washington’s and Jefferson’s gardens can still provide summer flowers, support pollinators, and withstand dry spells once established.
Source: George Washington’s Mount Vernon — Gardens and Landscapes, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello — Gardens, Royal Horticultural Society
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