SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow and press in lightly; requires light to germinate.
Starting Indoors:
Sow 6–8 weeks before last frost and cover with humidity dome to retain moisture until germination occurs. Keep at 65-70°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow mid-spring to early summer. May bloom the first year if sown indoors.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Heirloom Maltese cross has been in cultivation for centuries, acquiring names bestowed by gardeners that appreciated its brilliance and long life–Jerusalem Cross, Scarlet Lightning, Nonesuch, and more. In England, double forms were celebrated as a "glorious flower being as rare as it is beautiful" as early as 1629. This trouble-free hardy perennial has brilliant scarlet clustered blooms that appear reliably every summer, its long bloom time lending vibrance to informal meadow gardens and mixed borders. Deer and rabbits avoid it, and it is an excellent cut flower as well. Deadhead for extended bloom.
Watering Details:
Somewhat drought tolerant once established. 1" of water per week initially, then water during dry spells.
Fertilizer:
Mix about 2" of compost into the soil at time of planting, and top-dress every spring with about 1".
Diseases & Pests:
Mostly pest and disease free
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Cut when florets are 3/4 to fully open.
