Maltese Cross

Place Maltese Cross in the middle of a border, behind low edging plants and in front of shrubs or taller late-season perennials. Its upright habit reads best when repeated in a small grouping rather than scattered as isolated dots across a large bed. Keep it close enough to a path or bed edge for deadheading, but set the crowns back from main circulation so flowering stems do not lean into the walkway.^[1][2]

Set plants 18 inches apart, center to center. Each plant matures to roughly 18 inches wide, so this spacing lets neighboring clumps meet visually while preserving a distinct upright footprint. In a narrow border, allow the flowering stems to occupy the rear half of the planting and reserve the front edge for lower plants or clear access. A group of three to five fits naturally into a planting strip about 4 to 7 feet long.

Give Maltese Cross full sun and moderate water. Site it in soil that drains well but does not remain dry for long, particularly where nearby paving, walls, or tree roots can reduce available moisture. A sheltered position is useful in exposed gardens, where tall stems are more likely to need support.^[1][2]

The scarlet flower display occupies early summer through midsummer, making Maltese Cross most useful where a border needs a concentrated burst of color between spring bulbs and later summer bloomers. Remove faded flower heads to extend the display, then plan for surrounding plants to carry visual weight after flowering. The foliage remains part of the bed through the growing season.^[1][2]