Silene chalcedonica: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern Europe to Siberia and China
Plant Profile: Silene chalcedonica
Taxonomy: Silene chalcedonicaNames
Maltese Cross
Phonetic Spelling:sy-LEE-nee kalk-ee-DON-ee-kuh
Genus:Silene
Species:chalcedonica
Family:Caryophyllaceae
The Maltese Cross thrives in full sunlight and well-drained soil, provided it receives consistent moisture. Regularly removing spent blooms can prolong its flowering season. In nutrient-rich soils, staking may be necessary to support the plant and prevent it from bending over.
There are several hybrids to choose from, showcasing a range of heights and flower colors. The striking scarlet blooms of the Maltese Cross make a vibrant addition to any garden. For propagation, you can either divide the plants in spring or fall or sow seeds directly.
Silene chalcedonica Feature Summary
Silene chalcedonica Image Gallery
Tags
#red
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#perennial
#moist soil
#well-drained soil
#summer flowers
#long bloom time
#long lifespan
#partial shade tolerant
Similar Plants
Silene chalcedonica Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern Europe to Siberia and China
Perennial
Seed
Division
Fruit
An ovoid capsule that has the 5 teeth at its opening and contains reddish-brown seeds.
Capsule
Flowers
Dense heads composed of 10 to 50 individual 5-petaled flowers that are Maltese cross-shaped. They stand atop tall stems beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing for over 8 weeks or more. Individual flowers are 1 inch or less in size.
Red/Burgundy
Good Cut
Showy
Long-lasting
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Star
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are an egg to lance-shaped with a rounded base and no stem.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Opposite
Ovate
Lanceolate
Entire
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Deciduous
Erect
Medium
Low
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Cottage Garden
Border
Small groups
Deer
Rabbits
Lawn
Meadow
Coastal
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Silene chalcedonica Image Gallery
Silene chalcedonica Attributes
Silene chalcedonica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Silene chalcedonica: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Silene chalcedonica Fruit
Silene chalcedonica: Fruit Description
An ovoid capsule that has the 5 teeth at its opening and contains reddish-brown seeds.
Silene chalcedonica: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Silene chalcedonica Flowers
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Description
Dense heads composed of 10 to 50 individual 5-petaled flowers that are Maltese cross-shaped. They stand atop tall stems beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing for over 8 weeks or more. Individual flowers are 1 inch or less in size.
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Color
Red/Burgundy
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Silene chalcedonica: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Silene chalcedonica Leaves
Silene chalcedonica: Leaf Description
Leaves are an egg to lance-shaped with a rounded base and no stem.
Silene chalcedonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Silene chalcedonica: Leaf Color
Green
Silene chalcedonica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Silene chalcedonica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Silene chalcedonica: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Silene chalcedonica: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Silene chalcedonica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Silene chalcedonica Whole Plant Traits
Silene chalcedonica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Silene chalcedonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Silene chalcedonica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Silene chalcedonica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Silene chalcedonica: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Silene chalcedonica Cultural Conditions
Silene chalcedonica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Silene chalcedonica: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Silene chalcedonica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Silene chalcedonica: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Silene chalcedonica: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Silene chalcedonica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Silene chalcedonica: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Silene chalcedonica Stem
Silene chalcedonica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Silene chalcedonica Landscape
Silene chalcedonica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Silene chalcedonica: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Silene chalcedonica: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Silene chalcedonica: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Silene chalcedonica: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
